In the 10 years they’ve been together, A have gone through their collective, if delayed, puberty. Ignoring the fact that we’re still waiting for Jason Perry’s unique voice to break, they’ve gotten over their monkey obsession, stopped wearing schoolboy-type shorts, and have only just successfully avoided singing about how yukky it is to kiss girls.
Their new-found maturity’s proved by the addition of Terry Date at the helm. The Deftones and Pantera knob-twiddler skilfully swaps A’s pop/punk sensibilities with a full adult dose of rock – the likes of which we’ve seen with former single ‘Nothing’.
Lead track ‘Better Off With Him’ does the job of being a single, but don’t think it’s representative. Instead look to ‘Someone Else’ as a transitional track between their former and new selves, with a trampoline-friendly chorus juxtaposed with a wall of guitar and lyrics that would worry a counsellor. Their sombre new direction is cemented with the next track, the poignant ‘Die Tonight’ – and it’s straight faces from thereon.
However, while it’s commendable they’ve taken a risk by being true to themselves, their search for a progressive sound has caused them to ditch their former trademark – the Ginormous Tune – yet it’s exactly this which is the base element for a good band.
But hell, a few off-target shots is the price you pay for a healthy, risk-taking music scene. And A will take the bullet like the men that they now are.