A nu-metal band who launched their career with a novelty cover version, the signs for Alien Ant Farm pulling off a successful second chapter of their career seemed unlikely. More so when a fatal coach crash threatened their very existence.
That they have regrouped after such a tragedy is only to be applauded and it should perhaps be no surprise that Truant is a more sombre affair than last time round. Sadly, it’s also a little duller. The pop sensibility of ‘Anthology’ is still there at times, particularly on the single ‘These Days’, but you can’t help but learn for a touch more of its spirit. I
Truant is all nicely played and produced for sure, but the over eagerness to tackle a range of styles hints at a lack of real substance – they even have a crack at reggae, always a sign of desperation. Given what they’ve been through it feels too churlish to criticise them too much but sadly this suggests there’s surprisingly little to be found behind these particular clowns’ masks.