Album Review: Feeder – Torpedo
Reviewed by Tim Finch
For those of us of a certain age, the thought of bands like Feeder and Placebo releasing albums would take us back to our youth, bringing forth memories of dancing the night away in nights clubs with sticky floors up and down the country. This month both the aforementioned bands release new albums, is it the late 90’s all over again?
First to gate are Feeder with their eleventh studio album ‘Torpedo’. Hailing from Newport, South Wales, they built a reputation for high octane records with live show to match. As with any band they mellow as they age, it’s just human nature, but 'Torpedo' see’s the band switch things up. It’s not delivered at the break neck speed of 1997’s ‘Polythene’ or 1999’s ‘Yesterday Went Too Soon’ but it revives that old school Feeder feel we all know and love.
The album opens with a string section gently coaxing the listener into ‘The Healing’. From this mild mannered start the song, and indeed the album, starts to grow. Grant Nicholas’ familiar vocal tones soothing the listener as this grower of a rock anthem rings through your head, a six minute ditty that hints at a progressive/Rush influence in the writing style.
Title track ‘Torpedo’ has a dark undertone, a masterful riff that leaves an earworm long after the song has been put to bed. The traditional Feeder style runs through the album, ballad like anthems that switch to rock fuelled rompers at a moments notice.
‘Magpie’ stands out as a favourite track on the release, but it's anything but the traditional Feeder style. The gritty guitar tone turns this track into an industrial stomp, The chugging riff has an undercurrent of danger, leaving you on the edge of your seat wondering where they can take this next. ‘Wall Of Silence’ starts off innocently enough but is built on that traditional Feeder foundation and soon has you dancing round your living room like you’re a teenager all over again.
With ‘Torpedo’ feeder leave you under no illusion, they may be a little older (aren’t we all?) but their musical roots remain strong.
