Band: Sonic Boom Six
Album: Sonic Boom Six (Album)
Release Date: 15th October 2012
It has often been said that every band has that moment in their career when they want to take on the world, and Sonic Boom Six’s new album is undoubtedly theirs. Simply titled ‘Sonic Boom Six’, the album serves as a message of intent of a band looking to re-establish themselves as a band and turn a few heads in the process.
Something that may catch older fans off guard is the band’s new found heavy use of electronics on the album, such as the wob heavy ‘High Cost Of Living’. However this comes from a band who once released an album called ‘The Ruff Guide To Genre Terrorism’ and therefore experimentation and a lack of regard for the ‘rule book’ should hardly be a surprise and luckily it complements their music brilliantly. This isn’t to say that they’ve completely turned their backs on their ska punk roots, be it the breakneck riffs of ‘Who Will Survive’ or the trumpets that permeate ‘SOS State Of Shock’, there are plenty of nods to the band’s past that more veteran fans will find something to get their teeth into. The best example of the band seamlessly mashing their past and future together is the excellent ‘Karma Is a Bitch’ which contains a bouncy ska riff before buckling under the weight of a frantic electro tinged chorus that is bound to get people moshing, skanking and dutty wining in equal measures.
Having recently been labelled with such tags as “chav rock” and “N Dubz with guitars” by the Black Veil Brides brigade due to the band’s preference for new era’s over black and white facepaint, Sonic Boom Six may be called a lot of things but they can’t be called sellouts. Having always created music with a strong political message, the band’s latest is no exception. Whether it’s the David Cameron baiting ode to cultural diversity ‘Kids Of The Multiculture’ or the anti war sentiments of ‘Gary’s Got A Gun’, the band are never shy when it comes to tackling controversial topics. However while on album’s such as Enter Shikari’s ‘A Flash Flood Of Colour’ the more political focus lead to some surprisingly sombre moments, luckily this isn’t the case with Sonic Boom Six. There is no lack in momentum and even when tackling such heavy lyrical material the band consistently bring the party vibes.
One of the aces in the band’s pack has always been the dual vocalist assault of Barney Boom and Laila K and the band’s latest showcase their unique personalities to superb effect. Barney’s story telling rhymes and grin raising lines (“Reggae posters in Polish grocers/Getting along like chips and samosas”) are complemented brilliantly by Laila. Being one of the most original and exciting female performers in the world of rock right now she provides a welcome alternative to a sea of Hayley Williams clones. Her sunshine vocals on the uplifting ‘Keep On Believing’ are guaranteed to put a spring in your step for the rest of the day.
Sonic Boom Six is an album that is intelligent and socially relevant while also being a lot of fun and perhaps most importantly a collection of wall to wall bangers form start to finish. If this is the sound of “N Dubz with guitars” Dappy and Tulisa must be kicking themselves that they didn’t pick up a fender themselves.
8/10
Reviewer: Gavin Lloyd
