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  Zahir

Nice little slab of hard rock, this… 

That would be a less than adequate way to describe the second full length release from Milton Keynes’ finest, Space Pistol. These chaps have quite deftly honed their sound to bring you 11 slices of meaty sonic pizza all boxed up in the form of their new album, Headlocker – and it’s going to raise your blood pressure as well as quench your thirst, satisfy your grungy hunger and increase your heart rate. The team are keeping up momentum as its just shy of 2 years since their debut release, Leave With Everything.

The imagery is stark, as they’ve chosen to fully embrace the fluorescent pen-chic pink and black and to some extent the sounds on this record are every bit as contrasting. There are moments of quiet – albeit sparse, and ample moments of carnage. The space between is filled with lyrics that often verge on insane – like unholy chunks of pineapple on this round foodstuff (sticking with the pizza euphemisms, sorry not sorry). One thing is for certain, there can be no argument made against this album – unlike fruit on a slice.

The album opens with Space Pirate which pits unhinged guitars against crunchy bass. The song still colours inside the lines, but threatens to cross into other sonic territory. There’s an indie vibe here, but with that groove-laden mid-section and general heaviness, there’s something for everyone. Next up is The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, which ends up conveying a sense of claustrophobia. I’m still undecided as to whether that bassline is anchoring me or dragging me over bedrock. It’s perfectly creepy.

New, track number 3 is the first (dare I say, only?) respite on this album and is more straight ahead rock. The vocal delivery is melancholic, and the additional female accompaniment adds nice texture. It almost sounds like a different band and at this point I really started to appreciate the production and general presentation of the sound of the record. Track 4, Turbo Blood drags the listener right back into the chaotic tone of the opening songs. Surreal, which follows, opens with acapella vocals but doesn’t stay that way for long. What makes this unique is the perfect one-word chorus. It’s exactly the right way to go.

The lads released an official video in July for next song I Can’t Sleep and really speak of the struggle any artist has in the modern world where its just not enough to an artist. The song successfully conveys the pure exhaustion and frustration associated with having to be a “content creator” just to secure a glance on digital media. Seventh instalment, Fantasmagorical sounds every bit as ethereal as its namesake; being another dose of frenetic energy and psychedelia.

Title track Headlocker wears the crown of grunge proudly with some gorgeous vocal melodies embellishing it. Isolationist is up next bringing more straight grunge vocal delivery and off-the-wall guitar melodies. Penultimate track, Ambulance feels like being hit by one and then being carted into it on a bumpy ride to the hospital. It transitions seamlessly into final track Tomb… maybe the end of the ambulance analogy… it genuinely isn’t often I get to the final song on an album and think “things were only just getting started”. I feel like I need to know what happens beyond the Tomb.

As a close friend recently reminded me “comparison is the thief of joy” and in the case of Headlocker I fail to make a comparison – nothing but joy for all!! This is an accomplished, mature and varied offering from a band that I believe have much more to deliver. I get the feeling this is going to be one to experience live. And you can do that from the 4th of Septmember starting with their album launch party at The Craufurd Arms, in MK. Go forth and consume!