Random Hand self-titled fifth album out Friday
It’s hard to believe that UK SKA-punk legends Random Hand have been going for twenty years. The
Keighley West Yorkshire icons are back with a new album out tomorrow, as they hit the road.
Following the release of “Hit Reset” in 2015, the band took a break to pursue personal projects. Having toured relentlessly, having played well over 2,000 shows, bassist Joe Tilston said that they
“pushed ourselves to breaking, then further still” explains that they “stopped to recover and then came back with a passion and energy”.
Coming back together they started writing the new album and Joe continued “Once we started writing the new album, we hit a groove like in the years the band first started…. Things felt so natural and exciting again. Working with Andy Hawkins, who helped us craft ‘Hit Reset’ was the obvious choice. We loved making that album, but recording an album you know you’re not going to tour is a very different experience. This was exciting, potential was oozing out of every session, that didn’t feel stunted or a waste. The choice to call it ‘Random Hand’ felt like a bold statement for album five and two decades into a career. But we feel that good about it, it defines all we’ve done, and we believe it stands as tall as anything else we’ve ever created, if not taller. With all the other great things happening in ska punk in the international scene and in the UK, makes it feel like this album couldn’t be timed better.”
The first taste of the new album we got was the release of Lifejackets. As is often the case with Random Hand, the track is lively, joyous and has that ska infused infectious beat, but at the same time delivers a serious message through it’s lyrics, as it reflects on the gap between ‘us’ and those in power.
Well, now we can get into the whole album, and I have to say Joe is right in what he said. Right from the off with opening track The Cycle the album feels fresh, bright and full of energy. It’s like a band in their early prime, experimenting and enjoying their music, not a band with over 20 years under their belt. It has that early Specials quality to it.
If you love stuff like the Interrupters, Rancid, King Prawn and Reel Big Fish, you’re gonna love this too !
The compressed horns, Hammond organ and bass beat are pure SKA, mixed with loud thunderous choruses that get you jumping and shouting the lyrics back at the speakers. The addition of some female vocals adds a great depth (particularly on I Think I’m Losing My Mind with it’s almost choral like section towards the end) some of the instrumental sections dive into more hardcore, heavy metal spaces to great effect. All of this gives it a greater depth as an album, more variety and sonic interest.
There’s a great mix of tones and sounds on offer which keeps the interest going with Dead Weight being a full frontal punk assault on the ears, whilst Here Lies The Music has a more anthemic, metal feel to it.
Devil with a Microphone is an absolute belter, with that distinctive SKA rhythm section and brass, but the chorus exploding with an almost Offspring like guitar section.
Nicely sat in the middle of the album there’s the nice surprise of an acoustic number in the form of Busy Lumps of Carbon. It’s an interesting point in the album, with the acoustic guitar loud and crisp, but the vocals somewhat muted, almost as if recorded in a bedroom or a small room, and it has a melancholy feel to it. It’s a delightful juxtaposition from the high quality sound edit and spotless presentation. A moment of wonderful, youthful amateur fun. I loved it, it’s a great track anyway, but the delivery is stunning.
Maybe track of the album for me is XY which has more of an American sound to it with an almost rapped lyric. Up there with it is Frequencies with its strong uplifting tone.
The album ends on a real high with I Think I’m Losing My Mind which seems to bring so many of the influences already mentioned into one melting pot. And even then, two thirds of the way through the track seems to pause and delivers a ghostly female choral sung section that wouldn’t be amiss in a Behemoth opt Batushka track. Just as your coming to terms with the change, the track explodes once more for a final 60 second onslaught.
I have to say, I’m loving the album. Still a brilliant SKA-punk offering but that break has brought them, back even better than before, and the album offers a wealth of sounds and experiences. An excellent 9.0 from LiveWire Music.
Random Hand have just embarked on their latest tour to support the album and it all kicks off tonight in Nottingham at the Old Cold Store. Check out the poster below for details of where you can catch them. Tickets can be purchased at www.randomhand.co.uk
