Albums

Pulled Apart By Horses - Pulled Apart By Horses

Chris Tapley 28/06/2010

Rating: 4/5

Pulled Apart By Horses' rise to relative prominence is predicated largely on their reputation as one of the most entertaining live acts around. Sure they've had a few single releases but their chaotic live shows over the last few years (supporting the likes of Biffy Clyro, The Bronx and Rolo Tomassi) are what's put them in a position where their debut album is now rather hotly anticipated. Now they're faced with the task of trying to capture that raw energy on record, which thankfully they seem to have achieved. Their style thrives on this energy as well, being essentially a fun album which errs on the poppier end of the post-hardcore spectrum mixed with straight up rock'n'roll.

First single and opening track Back to the Fuck Yeah is a prime example, packed with breakdowns, heavy bass and shrieked vocals which defy it's melodic hook. High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive recalls The Blood Brothers, and PABH seem to excel in the combination of playful metal and experimental pop tendencies which the former only managed to perfect on their final couple of albums. There isn't much in the way of angst here though, it's just balls to the wall party metal, the best comparison probably being the whiskey soaked grooves of Everytime I Die, the vocals sound not dissimilar to Keith Buckley on a few occasions too, most notably on Yeah Buddy. There are shades of Queens of The Stone Age at their most decadent, particularly in the harmonised backing vocals on the likes of Get Off My Ghost Train and Back to The Fuck Yeah. The vocal refrain of I Punched A Lion in the Throat is difficult not to enjoy, and with Tom Hudson's animalistic yelp you can almost believe that he did.

Closing track Den Horn is a tour de force with it's galloping autonomous riff rounding off the final seven minutes. At just over half an hour the album is a whirlwind experience, and this is the key success here. The record is by no means perfect and the drums could do with being notched up a few levels in the mix to get the full pulverising effect. On occasion the vocals could do with a little more clarity as well, but in practice that may well be at odds with the tone and it's such little imperfections which help to truly capture the spirit of PABH. It's the ragged, feral and uncensored nature of the bands ferocity which makes them so appealing in the first place, to fault that is missing the point somewhat.

Pulled Apart By Horses have crafted a debut album which is, in the finest possible way, very difficult to analyse: it's simply far too much fun. The fact it's such a raucous sonic mess and yet the desire to jump around and tear your throat to shreds by screaming along is still so overwhelming in itself is a solid measure of success.

Release date: 21/06/2010