Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes: Blossom

There’s no doubt about it – Frank Carter and co sure as hell don’t pull their punches. Their debut LP, Blossom, is down, dirty and ready to rumble; they’re so goddamn punk it’s almost unbelievable. There really isn’t anything quite like a pissed-off British bloke screaming into a microphone; it worked for the Sex Pistols et al, and it somehow still works in 2015.
With growling, crunchy guitars, a scream that’ll blow out your eardrums and a truckload of good ol’ punk attitude, Blossom will knock your socks off. It’s not a clean album; it’s angry, grungy and sounds like the drummer was literally trying to hit his kit so hard it broke. When there’s the slightest lull in the audial assault (circa track 5, ‘Paradise’), you’re treated to the meanest-sounding bass guitar I’ve heard in years, as well as Carter giving up singing and just plain yelling.
All in all, Blossom isn’t particularly melodic; it’s all power chords, thunderous drums and a hell of a lot of energy. It’s hardcore punk at its best, really. While not unlike Carter’s previous work with Gallows, Blossom feels like it’s much more personal and a lot more on the raw side; it’s less polished and the underlying energy is very different. Carter has certainly thrown himself into his new project, and it shows – he sounds like he’s having an absolute ball, and overall the whole album fits together perfectly, despite the visceral punch to the eardrums it unleashes.
Out now via International Death Cult / Kobalt
Reviewed by Alastair McGibbon