'Worship' is the third album from New York's loudest band, A Place to Bury Strangers. They are still a three piece, but the band have lost Welsh born bassist Jono Mofo who has been replaced Dion Lunadon, who was formerly in the D4s.

'Worship' is the band's third album on their fourth label. While being a massive fan of theirs, the last time I saw them live it was getting predictable. I haven't seen them plugging this set yet, but have great expectations for it as 'Worship' is an album that made me fall in love with them all over again and as instantly as the first time that I heard them. The arrangements now between guitar and the new boy on bass are so magical that it has reinvented the band.

'Alone' kicks off the new album. This sounds much meaner and blacker then before. The bass is deeper while the guitar feedbacks perfectly. 'You are the One' is the closest thing to a pop number for the band. The bass is reminiscent of the Cure, while lyrically it could be the Jesus and Mary Chain in 1985.

'Mind Control' is much more savage and loud, like 'Psychocandy' turned up 100 per cent, and throwing in some odd sounding elements that could almost be Krautrock.

'Worship' is a slow dirty blues number which is liquid honey on these ears. 'Fear' is an understanding on how to control the noise you get from a guitar, restrain it, and then let the horny beast out to play. Bass and drums perfectly match, while Oliver Ackermann's vocal is totally crystal clear. This is the best underground music that I have I heard since the early 1980s.

'Dissolved' is haunting like early ILiKETRAiNS and the Chameleons or even Slowdive. It gently plays on your mind, but halfway through it picks up pace, and-reminiscent of the Cure's 'Jumping Someone Else's Train' - becomes almost like another new song altogether.

'Why I Can't Cry Anymore' is full on noise,an assault on your senses. 'Revenge'is like a My Bloody Valentine number with some added aggression behind it.It is a song to make you mosh your heart away, even if you are old enough to know better.

'And I'm Up' is an almost cheerful pop track with a black heart. 'Slide' jangles in an early 80s Goth style, while 'Leaving Tomorrow#' is another assault on your senses, and noisy, fresh and exciting.

An absolutely fantastic album.


Track Listing