Like everything that The Mess Hall have ever committed to record, Devil's Elbow, their second full release, fails to capture the intensity of the band's live performance.
The lead track and first single Keep Walking packs a heavy punch and Cookie - the album highlight - gets to the brink of exploding on numerous occasions before bringing itself together. Both come over as watered down versions of what the duo is able to produce on stage.
There are more ballads on this record than the band have attempted before. They are strengthened in this area with an expansion in instrument arsenal which helps them create a fuller sound, as well as giving them more room to move within the song.
This record is best suited as an accompaniment to relive the band's show the night before. Let's hope it sells well enough that they are able to perform these songs on stages all across the country. After all - that's where they belong.
RSS Feeds |