Singles

Gallows - Abandon Ship

Angus Reid 12/06/2007

Rating: 0.5/5

The first time I put this in the computer to listen to it, I get a raft of gently buzzing guitars and drone-based pleasantness. I think to myself "Ace, I'm going to like this". The second time I make a point of playing the CD, and something entirely different attacks me from the speakers. Oh, so THIS is what I'm writing about is it? Well, so be it, this is what Gallows really sound like then.

Abandon Ship leaps straight into the riffing without so much as a word of introduction. Fitting though, as the first words are "gyee daaa geeh smeeh!!". Or at least that appears to be the idea, as throughout the track words are mangled to beyond recognition. This is quite clearly a band that own more than a few At The Drive-In and Sparta albums, and don't seem to care who knows it. This is all well and good if you're after the latest fad to hit Kerrang magazine (this lot have already been on the cover), but personally it's hard to see why the world needs more of this shouty, impotent angst when there are others still in existence that do it so much better. If there was really something to get this worked up about, why not make sure that the vocals are clear so that your message can be heard?

Finally, after two minutes of unintelligible wailing we get a little break form the loud guitars for some medium loud ones, there's even an organ and everything. "Ladies and gentleman, May I have your attention please" shouts what sounds like an angry plumber. Ok, you've got my attention, now what? "NO I NEVER LOVED YOU ANYWAY!" Oh. Right. I see, it's another angsty love song then is it. Dear oh dear, isn't there a support group for these jilted young chaps outside of the rock charts? It seems to be something of a problem that we should really look into dealing with.

I am being somewhat harsh. The drummer seems to be having a good time, with drums pounding and rolling all over the place with reckless abandon. And there's a brief breakdown bit where things move beyond the realms of guitar power chords that briefly catches the attention, but it's all too brief and we're quickly thrust back into the generic riffology. What a waste, but give them time and they might write something with some semblance of tune or even some genuine emotion, and when that happens they could be an intriguing prospect. Until then however, just chuckle merrily to yourself and wait for this one to pass. I'm going back to that thing I played by accident at the start of the review.


Watch the video here