Too many careers in rock’n’roll are sprints rather than marathons. Few artists make it past their debut album without having already squandered their life’s quota of creative ideas. Fewer still make it to four albums without hitting some kind of existential crisis, without losing direction, or going on autopilot and resorting to the same old tricks to keep a dwindling fan-base interested.
Meet Band Of Skulls, then, whose fourth album, ‘By Default’, is the sound of a group on the sharpest form of their career, more engaged and focused than they’ve ever been. An album that electrifies with rock’n’roll cut back to its most vivid elements, focusing all their brawny power and maverick invention into choruses, hooks and expertly-sculpted three-minute bursts so unashamedly anthemic and accessible they’ll soundtrack this summer, and far beyond.
After accumulating a sackful of new tunes that had withstood their punishing audition process, the group went into the studio with legendary producer Gil Norton (Pixies, Foo Fighters, Patti Smith) to commit the new songs to tape. They brought with them sounds sampled in the church, to preserve the magical ambience they’d discovered. They also brought with them some of their strongest songs yet – from the primal brilliance of opener Black Magic and the irresistible dynamics of Killer, to the slow-burning drama of the powerful Embers, to the razor-edged funk of So Good, to the swaggering, steroidal, futurist blues-rock of Little Mama. Norton helped them polish the raw material; more often, though, he encouraged further excursions into the unknown, like the wild freakout that scores the muscular rhumba of Tropical Disease.
‘By Default’ is an album of which Band Of Skulls are understandably proud, but the group know it is more than just their latest record; it’s also the gateway to their future. “This album could have been fifty songs, each one a minute long, because we had so many ideas” says Russell, hinting that the group’s fearsome pace and creative stamina are far from exhausted.
Now, the band’s focus is taking these new songs on the road, to play them before audiences. “For us, it’s like a tightrope thing,” says Matt. “Like, can we pull off this trick?” Smart money says they can, with a killer flourish. “We’re proud of this new album we’ve made,” adds Russell. “We hope it bursts out of the speakers to make that clear.”
‘By Default’ will be released on May the 27th through BMG Chrysalis/8Ball Records and a PIAS distribution.
Live: 14th July, Dour Festival, Dour
