It’s a decade since trail-blazing dance-rock duo Death From Above 1979 last released an album. During that time, the pioneering sonic pugilists have suffered many pretenders and successors (such as Test Icicles and Royal Blood respectively). No-one does chunky riffs and hyper-active hooks quite like Sebastien Grainger and Jesse F. Keeler, though... and The Physical World announces their return in rousing style.
Cutting to the chase, anyone expecting a massive forward leap from their ferocious debut You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine should head elsewhere. With a similar ethos that made The Ramones, The Misfits and AC/DC global icons, Death From Above 1979 opt to stick to what they’re good at and it makes for an exhilarating listen.
Opening with ‘Cheap Talk’, the track’s biting bass and colossal grooves prove that they haven’t missed a beat, despite their hiatus; and the break-neck ‘Government Trash’ and the tellingly titled ‘Always On’ are breathtaking rock songs. Perverted power ballad ‘White Is Red’ offers something of a departure for the duo, but mostly The Physical World is all about riffs that could crack the sky and tunes tailor-made for the mosh pit. Here’s hoping it won’t take them another ten years to create a follow up.
OUT September 19.