Review: Sonic Boom Six - Self Titled

The long awaited review of the long awaited album. This is the fourth album form the genre terrorists from Manchester, Sonic Boom Six. It is by far the biggest leap in sound they've made. It has been massively influenced by dance and electronic music, particularly drum'n'bass and dubstep, and is considerably more in-your-face. this has always been their style but there is a much more commercial edge to this album. Ultimately it is still a massive mash-up of punk, metal, hip-hop and dance.

First off I would like to point out some of my peeves about it. I have been a fan since Arcade Perfect was released so I feel pretty closely connected to this band, so I will hold no punches here. Firstly, at 10 tracks and only 38 minutes, I feel like it's a bit on the short side. Considering how long it took to release I thought they might have a few more tracks that would make the cut. Oh well. I'm also a little disappointed that there is not as much ska on this record as on their previous releases.

The big controversial issue here however, is the new hi-fi radio friendly dance sound. Despite being a fan of D'n'B and Dubstep I still have my reservations about this new step. It works really well on some tracks such as Virus and Karma is a Lady, but I get a feeling that they're hopping on the bandwagon a bit. It seems like the break beats and wobbly bass lines were added in as an afterthought. This reinforces the stereotyping that goes on with these genres and therefore reduces it to a fad.

That being said I love that Sonic Boom Six are still exploring and moving their sound forward. Mixing and mashing is what they do best and it is a credit to them that they took a risk this time. And they are all to aware of the risk that this is. They know that they might alienate some hardcore fans, and like all modern punk bands, they run the risk of becoming a 'sell-out' in the eyes of those eager to judge. A blatant move to become more accessible may be the most logical explanation for the shift, but SB6 turn it in a statement of intent from a band that's gone unnoticed to too long.

This album contains some of the best social commentary and the issues tackled are close to home. The only shame is that it took so long to release after being recorded. The riots of Summer 2011 form the backdrop to the lyrical content but the edgy commentary comes a year late. There is a perfect blend of nihilism and positivity here. My personal favourite being the out and out power-punk Keep On Believing, which is set to be the next single. A perfect celebration of everything that makes music great. This is a feel good tune in a style they haven't employed since their very early days. Barney's rap on Karma Is A Lady is cutting and sincere, a new high for him, set to a chilled out dubby skank which builds to a signature final track crescendo. The one other that deserves a listen is The High Cost Of Living, a text book example of the masterful art of genre mashing: blending some seriously heavy dub metal breakdowns, soulful ska and candy-shop synth-pop.

So there are certainly some controversial points to this recording but as they say, it's better to be either loved or hated than just liked. Judged on this criteria, Sonic Boom Six is very successful, and overall I like it. I wouldn't call it their best album but it is full of energy and intent which is clear evidence that this band are more relevant than ever and they mean business.