Instruction – ‘God Doesn't Care’ (Polydor) Released 29/11/04

 

Firing up with a growl, 'Great' gets them of to an exciting start, very early Foo Fighters 'Alone and Easy Target', it sounds like the perfect soundtrack to the inevitable football game sequence in any American High School movie. 'Lean on me' is in the same vein as Biffy Clyro, albeit with fairly low-fi production, the angry abrasive guitars and catchy chorus are a call to the disillusioned youth.

 

By far the best song on the album, 'Are You Happy?' has a killer breakdown and vocals that are as brutal as a brick in the face. Clearly needing a rock video similar to those kids bashing through a wall in that Internet commercial, powerful stuff. Disappointment sets in, with 'I'm Dead' sounding like the Calling crossed with an American interpretation of U2 that is too Dawson's Creek for comfort. The swinging rhythm errs on the side of cheesy; you can practically visualise the lingering looks across crowded rooms. 'Breakdown's twanging guitars and brooding vocals has a full on Incubus vibe that might translate better live, whereas 'Pissed Me Off Again' attempts at bile are so full of 'I'm harder than you' playground-style baiting that they lose all credibility. The early Bush era harmonies of 'Death To the 4 Car Garage Band' also sound a bit wet behind the ears, and their attempts to inject an edge with vocals more gravely than a newly surfaced drive make the track sound dated.

 

Flaunting an Asian influence on 'Feed The culture' ends up more Kula Shakur than Ravi Shankar, sounding a bit too affected to really hit home. 'Your Punk Sucks' is Puddle of Mudd meets Status Quo in dive bar, they are stating to sound like a band who have lost their way, this song reeks of a pub band who do a nice line in Black Sabbath covers. Veering into Deftones territory, 'Types To Exception' will appeal to the Kerrang TV watching market, 'Three Stops Short of Dagenham's' naff title hides crashing drums and a quiet, loud, dynamic that is pure Nirvana. The slowed down Rage style guitars and distorted Feeder vocals of 'God Doesn't Care If We Blow Up The ****ing World', amble along into a disappointing dirge, attempts to pick up the pace on 'TMI', with howling vocals bouncing back and forth, but the intent of the earlier songs is gone. The sweetly gentle If Anything' serves as some consolation, but you can't help feeling this album is a least four songs too long.