Left-hand Side of the Stage: Therapy?

Band: Therapy?
Album: Disquiet
Label: Amazingrecordco.
Genre: Alt. Metal / Rock
Country: Northern Ireland
Release Date: 23rd March 2015

There has been quite a lot of hype surrounding the 14th album from veteran Alt. Metal band, Therapy? over the past few months and I want to start off by addressing this hype. No, "Disquiet" is NOT "Troublegum" part 2. How could it be and why would you want it to be? Troublegum was a product of its era and of the Alt-Rock / Grunge explosion of the early 90s. A lot has happened since then, both musically and in all of our lives. On saying that, I'm not sure if it was a deliberate move to facilitate said hype or if it just happened organically, but everything from the sleeve layout and the arty, slightly disturbing artwork to the low-fi production does go a long way towards giving "Disquiet" that vintage / classic Therapy? feel.

I have to admit that, against my better judgement, I did let the hype affect my opinion when I first listened to the album. This, unfortunately meant that I initially found the album to be disappointing. Luckily, as I saw the positive scores flooding in all over the internet and in magazines, I found myself wondering just what it was that I was missing so I decided to go back to it and found that "Disquiet" is one of those subtle "growers" - you know the ones - that doesn't rely on a radio "hit" to lure you in and a polished production to hide the lack of actual songs. And if there is one thing you can say about Therapy? and especially lead singer / songwriter, Andy Cairns it is that they are masters when it comes to penning a great song.

And that's where "Disquiet" comes in. Each an every song is wonderfully crafted and full of punchy, catchy hooks. I can see why people are harking back to the band's glory days, as when you compare "Disquiet" to it's predecessor, "A Brief Crack Of Light", which was a musically experimental and lyrically dark and troubling piece of work, it is, to use a well-worn expression, like comparing chalk and cheese. The lyrics are still dark and brooding and filled with the cynicism, introspection and borderline self-pity that you might expect from Therapy?, but the finished result is an upbeat and immediate collection of songs which make up arguably the best and most consistent album Therapy? have put their name to in many years and that is definitely cause for celebration.

From the opening one-two punch of "Still Hurts" and "Tides" to the very last second of album closer "Deathstimate", "Disquiet" is not only among the band's best albums to date, but it is also without doubt, the heaviest. There are some real monster riffs to be found here among the subtly infectious choruses - from the crunch of "Vulgar Display Of Powder" (also song title of the year) and "Left Behind" to the crushing Stoner / Sludge of the aforementioned "Deathstimate"'

Why keep looking backwards for great albums when there are bands like Therapy? releasing them now? The 90s (along with your youth) has gone and it isn't coming back. No amount of nostalgia is going to change that, so crank it up loud and live for the moment!

Total Playing Time: 42 minutes

Overall: 9/10

Tracklist:

Still Hurts
Tides
Good News Is No News
Fall Behind
Idiot Cousin
Helpless Still lost
Insecurity
Vulgar Display Of Powder
Words Fail Me
Torment Sorrow Misery Strife
Deathstimate