It’s hard to believe that Therapy? are about to release their fourteenth studio album, it’s harder still to comprehend the legendary Troublegum was released twenty one years ago back in 1994. So given the band took their most successful album back on the road for a sell-out twentieth anniversary tour last year, it’s fair enough that Andy Cairns and co wanted to recreated something in a similar vein and thus Disquiet was born.
The first track “Still Hurts” kicks in just like Troublegum’s opener did all those years ago, which is just how Andy Cairns envisaged it – the frontman openly admits he wanted the track to be a reflective response to “Knives” and it’s certainly that, both lyrically and musically it’s instantly recognisable as that classic Therapy? punk/metal sound.
Historically the band have never been one to stick to the rule books and granted they may not have sustained the success of the nighties, but even through times of experimentation (both music-wise and otherwise) Therapy? have consistently produced albums with some quality songs, even if they’ve been received with varying levels of support from the music press.
It’s this then that makes Disquiet no different as “Tides” and “Good News is No News” continue in the sing-a-long fashion and are up there with Therapy? songs of old, just with a little more maturity as producer Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood/Band of Skulls) has helped give them a cleaner, more radio-friendly sound.
That’s not to say however that Therapy? have held back or over compensated in any way, there’s still the heavy riffs in “Fall Behind” and co-founder Michael McKeegan has come up with plenty of bass lines as “Insecurity” for example rumbles underneath Cairns distorted vocals reminiscent of the bands early days.
There’s always something to be said about a good song title too and Andy Cairns has always had a way with words, “Vulgar Display of Powder” being a simple yet affective take on Pantera’s “Vulgar Display of Power” whilst lyrically the song focusses on when the band were hanging around back stage with hangers on at festivals, during those drug-induced days that are now behind them.
As the band are set to embark on another tour it’s probably not long until their name will start appearing back on the very same festival circuit of which they speak – after all Disquiet is indeed full of short punchy tracks that will win back those who may have missed the likes of 2009’s Crooked Timber album, but at the same time Therapy? bring this one to a close with “Deathstimate” showing they still have those experimental tendencies that have kept them relevant throughout the years.
