Sticky. Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes

In the summer that going on a vacation was still a normal thing to do, my girlfriend and I were walking a trail from one Romanian village to another. After leaving the village there were three barking dogs ahead across an intersection blocking the road. Barking like crazy, showing their fangs. Okay?!, .... let's proceed with care. Coming closer one dog stopped barking and turned around, followed by the second and long before we crossed the intersection the third one turned around and followed his friends into the courtyard. Barking dogs don't bite proved very true here. There is actually a barking dog in 'Take It To The Brink', one of the song on this album. It did not inspire this story, that came totally by itself.

I can't help thinking about those dogs when listening to Sticky. Frank Carter is giving his all but I can't help thinking that he won't bite as well. Great fun his new album is, once again. Do not expect anything new much. Sticky is not an album filled with surprises. Far from, it is an album where Frank Carter and his Rattlesnakes perform at a consistently high level.

Having missed his second album with The Ratlesnakes, this is the third one I am enjoying thoroughly. His punky rock songs are solid and filled with energy. Although this music goes back about four decades by now. Let me take 'I Love Rock And Roll', Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' greatest hit and best known song as a departure point. All songs on Sticky have this kind of spunk and energy. Carter c.s. will not stop until they have floored all present. The road garage rock bands should walk, in fact, should have as their motto. This band has alright.

The rhythm section is so extremely solid. It has a deep sound taking care of the whole bottom end of the album. The guitars are just as dark. In that sense Sticky is a dark album. Despite Carter is spitting out some of his lyrics, he is the light on this album. Simply because I think he will not bite. He's enjoying himself so much here, doing what he does best: sing in a rock and roll band and meaning it. There's no time to bite, it's not the time to do so either.

'My Town' probably is the best example. Agression on a weekend night, is the topic. Just like smashing some teeth in 'Go Ge A Tattoo'. And then an acoustic guitar comes is under the lyrics instead of the full band. The little surprises on Sticky. Singing about agression, observing it, absorbing the energy, is a different thing than actually fighting. This band is fantastic in the translation.

The storm won't lie down before Sticky is over. Ten songs, all at a great level. How many albums do you know that deliver a constant level? Not that much, right? Sticky is up there with them. Auf Wiedersehen.

Wout de Natris