Scotland's Anchor Lane release their sophomore album “Call This A Reality”

Glasgow rock band Anchor Lane have announced a massive new UK headline tour for February 2023 in support of their forthcoming album release “Call This A Reality?” including a previously announced headline show at Glasgow’s Garage 2 on the 28th January 2023, giving fans the opportunity to celebrate the album’s release with the band.

Conor, Lawrence and Graeme spent the past couple of years writing and recording the new material in Glasgow with producer Bruce Rintoul (Twin Atlantic, Fatherson, Vukovi). The resulting sound of the band’s sophomore album can only be described as rock - with hints of metal, classic rock and more, but all with an underlying groove and is a sum of their bands influences including the likes of Nothing But Thieves, Royal Blood, Don Broco, Bring Me The Horizon and Band of Skulls.

Hard to believe it’s over two years since their debut album “Casino” landed, but they haven’t relaxed since then, with some excellent festival appearances which have received rave reviews and supporting slots with the likes of Eagles of Death Metal and Cheap Trick..

The new album starts off with Stutter which has a real alt-rock energy to it. Big sounding with a relentless drum beat driving it on with a crisp, clear guitar riff. Catchy it has an anthemic feel to it and sets the scene nicely for the rest of the album.

The feel switches up nicely for the next track Ministry, with a Muse like distorted guitar tone introducing the track. It feels immense, and full of power and a rich soundscape of tones. I loved it, and it’s perhaps my favourite track on the album.

Next up is album title track Call this a Reality? Conor’s vocals shine here, full of emotion with a darker feel to this one, with a deep pulsing bassline running through it, pulling the track together, resulting in a real foot tapper.

The darker emotional edge to the lyrics continues with Nitroglycerin and into I’ve Been Waiting which shows a move away from the drums/guitar/vocals format, with more obvious synth tones adding another dimension to their arsenal. I’ve Been Waiting has a lightness to it, almost bright and well suited to a live setting.

To anyone that’s heard the first album Mischievous Song has a familiar feel to it, a bouncy number with a fantastic fuzzy guitar chorus and chant along “nah-nah” section. This one will slot in nicely to their live set – full of fun and energy, That you just can’t stand still to listening to ! It builds to a wall of noise, the last 20/30 xseconds first sounding like an American punk guitar anthem (aka Bad Religion / Green Day, before the last few notes end in an almost “mischievous” power/glam rock flourish.

The new feel to the album is highlighted brilliantly with Choke a riff fuelled adrenaline rush full of attitude. A very punk-like intro builds and it delivers from first note to last. It’s an absolute beast of a tune. The pace slackens off (slightly) with Electric Karma before we’re hit hard with the outstanding Bitter which introduces itself with a wonderful dirty, fuzzy bass line underpinning the vocals, which take centre stage again – soft and delicate in parts and souring range in others - Excellent.

The Static is a short piece and stands out as different from everything else on offer here. It’s a simple piano piece - slow and dark, reminding me a bit of a moody Gary Numan intro, with a subtle strings tone underneath. Short, sweet and refreshing – a calming moment in the rock storm. Then straight back into it with Sycophant Disorder another power track.

Finally the album ends with I Don’t Have Another Soul to Pour. It feels the perfect track to end the album on, another fast riff laden affair – fast and powerful from start to finish.

“Call This a Reality?” is a great second album from Anchor Lane. For fans of the first album, it continues where it left off, but introduces some new elements along the way. Nothing too drfamatic to upset the die hard fans, but enough to take the album to a new level. It’s powerful and intense and ends on a high. We loved it and we’re looking forward to seeing the tracks translate to the live environment.

A whopping, and well deserved 9.5 from LiveWire.