National Razor - Stem Of Thorns Album

This is a group you cannot easily get a grip on - you can see where they're coming from, but not where they're going to. That JOY DIVISION are a big influence cannot be denied - they wear those colours with pride. Yet they manage to absorb many musical styles into their own, adapting & expanding to a point whereby you think the next album could really push them far. Title track "Stem Of Thorns" is a grey, moody thing with stark frosty guitar & IAN CURTIS voice singing across the slow paced grizzle. Every bit as happy & celebratory as "New Dawn Fades"! "Work For Food" changes direction towards a more Techno backing with a Hardcore guitar grunge - a dense, addictive, impulsive song fuzzed to agonized submission. "Ripped Off" has a gated drum sound which seems almost looped, with a mellow, atmospheric miasma of keys & FX'd axe forged into a catchy, driving dance track. "Soul Mate" sounds initially like a cross between THE CURE & BAUHAUS - a slow, odd, dramatic thing full of mystery. "Desensitized" again visits a more Electronic foundation which it then proceeds to cloak in a myriad hues of sombre guitar - again a strong song set against a well-built backing. "Dirty Water" reminds me a little of CLICK CLICK crossed with an untwisted SKINNY PUPPY - a slow, dramatic piece. "Exercise 1" stays faithful to JOY DIVISION's original atmosphere. NATIONAL RAZOR probably inject a degree more dense muscle into it, but the old ProtoGoths might smile at this tribute. "Joey's Party" reminds me a little of a CURE / JOY DIV. hybrid - the singer is so gravelly he could do a convincing cover of LEE MARVIN's "Wanderin' Star" - earthbound but not entirely devoidof positive emotion. "The Grind" heads in a more positive, Techno direction, very similar to CABARET VOLTAIRE circa "Trust In The Lord". "Downtrodden" is by far the strangest track on the album - a grungy tribute to the large, brassy Jazz of the old Philip Marlowe / Sam Spade-type detective movies - sleazy, brooding & BIG. "Moment Of Truth" pounds out a happy paradiddle drum pattern while bass crawls around in Primordial goo & the shimmering greylight guitar casts cloudy shadows over the sombre vocals. Final track "Passion Play" combines the sombre voice with rippling electric piano to create a simple but effective Goth prayer.
They may have adapted / adopted other people's sounds as their own, but they show a lot of potential - they can put songs together well, with added surprise and a dark / bright atmosphere. An accomplished, creditable album. But watch out, their next record might just blow the others away.

Originally reviewed for Soft Watch.