Album Review: The Ride // Catfish and the Bottlemen

Llandudno-based indie-rockers make an anticipated return with their second album

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Catfish and the Bottlemen drive through life at full pelt. A gold-certified debut managed to sell out an upcoming date at Manchester’s 8000-capacity Castlefield Bowl in a matter of minutes. Churning out another set of arena-ready indie-rock anthems, The Ride proves a cigarette smoke-infused, alcohol-soaked but artistic leap forward.

The Llandudno-based four-piece somehow have a way with the music industry, despite having been so freshly introduced. Self-belief is something they have never really lacked. No longer the band that plays in the carpark of Kasabian gigs and not needing to leave an EP on car bonnets, the majority of songs for The Ride had been written before the debut ones had even been mixed.

Honing their old-school Strokes-style ways, The Ride is a modicum of original expertise. An abundance of simple and no-fuss indie-rock, frontman Van McCann’s voice resembles a huskier Luke Pritchard before making a strained nod to Dave Grohl in a couple of instances. Oddly, his voice has seemed to improve.

It would be almost too easy for a band that had such a high starting platform to alter their ways completely but Catfish and the Bottlemen keep on track of their working class roots. Keeping the same New York illustrator for their second album artwork as the first, their influence of Strokes, Streets and Cribs rock weave its way through the almost 40 minute album. Weathered vocals and sometimes crude lyrics, The Ride follows in the steps of The Balcony in a way which is can resonate with a swarm of young fans, infatuated teenagers or bullish blokes.

Already favoured by numerous radio stations, Soundcheck was the first single to surface in 2016 – a minimal beginning leading to a cacophony of guitar and drums and a striking solo by guitarist Johnny Bond. Yet the album kicks off with 7, the first track to be performed live towards the backend of last year’s touring.

Postpone speeds along to a subtle but sublime guitar riff with lyrics to match while Anything brags technical guitar peppered throughout a dynamic that can’t seem to make its mind up.

Having revealed four tracks off the album already – including the measured angst of Twice – best kept secrets remain smartly concealed until release date. With impressive track Oxygen possessing guitar work reminiscent of latter-day Oasis, the Lyla-esque sound isn’t a surprise when you notice their producer Dave Sardy has Don’t Believe The Truth on his CV.

The cluster of high-octane tracks are offset by two mellow acoustics. Stripped back numbers Glasgow and Heathrow provide a bit of escapism from the thrash of working class garage-rock but showcase the band’s immaculate simplicity.

Shortest song on the bill Emily sees a race of a drum beat Matt Helders will have no doubt inspired when the chorus hits. After being admittedly a tad disappointed at how rapidly it came to an end, guitar sweeps in and out of a pounding percussion in Red, a hint of psychedelic backing vocal taking over the soar of a chorus. All is forgiven.

Now looked after by Oasis’ former manager, Marcus Russell, while sharing both a sound man and press officer with Welsh rockers Stereophonics, it’s almost as if McCann has designed his own style of masterplan. However, their intention remains simple – “to make music that sounds massive outdoors”.

Following on from The Balcony, the lengthiest – if not the best – track of the album is kept as the closer. The album title is taken from five minute long Outside, the track that most boasts their aim of instigating pure and anthemic stadium singalongs. McCann’s vocals are on a new level to any track from either this album or their first, serrating the edges of the whole track with a rocky tone.

There is nothing inherently ground-breaking about the album or the band themselves but that isn’t what they want. If a simplistic but skilful set of songs strike a chord with someone working a nine-till-five job, it’s considered a bonus amongst the four-piece. Enter Catfish and the Bottlemen – the phenomenon whose old-school style is somehow making miracles.

Tracklisting:

  1. 7
  2. Twice
  3. Soundcheck
  4. Postpone
  5. Anything
  6. Glasgow
  7. Oxygen
  8. Emily
  9. Red
  10. Heathrow
  11. Outside

The Ride is out 27th May. You can pre-order the album here.

Words by Brianna Riley

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