Townsend 2015
Colour Of Noise
British supergroup resolve the synesthesia of their name in the glittering collection of blues licks and righteous swagger.
Just when you thought metal lost its connection to the roots, in comes this album, with a finale titled “A Great Day For Rock And Roll” and glam peeling off to bare the artists’ true heart. Played loud – so the opening throb of “Can You Hear Me?” is a rhetorical question – the new band’s music is in the red, only it’s blue but buoyant. There are irresistible, arena-appealing hooks in “Drive It Like You Stole It” – oiled with a slide guitar – and “Medicine Man” rides a finger-popping groove, yet the ensemble’s mojo shows up when their seriousness is at play.
As a result, “Can’t Take It With You” digs much deeper, with a weighty stomp tapping into tradition and the riffs, laid down by LITTLE ANGELS’ Bruce John Dickinson, carrying the voice of FURYON’s Matt Mitchell down the Delta line. Further on, Ben Daniel’s bass and THE JEEVAS’ Randy Nixon’s hefty drumming on “Heavy” build tension in splashes, before reckless, rocking joy is spilled into “Temptation” so, while “Rock Bottom” thrives on cliches, each of them an infectious one, it’s this rootsy, gutsy drive that’s the defining characteristic of such a colorful noise. Paint on, guys!
****2/3
