ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Then Thickens – Death Cap At Anglezarke

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Then Thickens – Death Cap At Anglezarke
(Hatch Records)
4 out of 5

Then Thickens are a Chorley based sextet signed to Hatch Records (ex Brew Records), a label home to gorgeous grungers, Nine Black Alps, who the band just finished supporting on their recent UK tour. Featuring former members of Rolo Tomassi (Joseph Thorpe on bass) and noise merchants KONG (former frontman Jon-Lee Martin) you’d perhaps expect full on heavy trash metal math rock but no, their debut album Death Cap At Anglezarke is a mix of alternative grunge and college rock; more Springsteen than Slipknot.

Opening with slow building ‘Heaven won’t wait’ (not the first time that religion will be referenced) the song opens with the vocal of Jon-Lee Martin (think Michael Hutchence mixed with the baritone of Bombay Bicycle Club’s Jack Steadman), before the female vocals of Helen Thorpe are introduced and so begins a boy/girl harmony that is one of the main instruments of the album. Martin’s deeper vocals are complimented by the subtle but powerful vocal chords of Thorpe throughout the record.

Describing themselves as ‘slacker rock’ album track ‘Restart the Heart’ offers a nod to The Joy Formidable, The John Spencer Blues explosion and early Foo Fighters; heavy guitars, relentless stabbing piano, all underneath the powerful boy/girl vocals. The thundering drums and big chords in the chorus make it more pop than rock. The 80’s tongue (or should I say finger) in cheek video for album track Tiny Legs featuring Joe Gilgun, star of Shane Meadows’ film This is England, exhibits a good example of a band not taking themselves too seriously when it comes to a music video – something that never did the Foo’s any harm.

One of the highlights of Then Thickens’ label chums Nine Black Alps’ recently reviewed Candy For Clowns record is their ability to write a good melody, and the Chorley outfit are following in NBA’s footsteps. Death Cap sounds like Queens of the Stone Age at their most melodic, with just the right balance of tempo that makes it that little bit sexier and dirtier. The verse is then brutally interrupted with another big chorus and Martin’s paranoia: ‘I must be tripping, I see my soul and I see your soul’. Martin’s on-going reference to religion throughout the album is one that gives you a sense that it’s something that he questions, but still relies on heavily to get him through his fears. In Ritalin Love he openly references his fears of the pyschostimluant drug Ritalin; talking about the addictiveness of the ‘little white pill’ and the effect it can have, when he describes ‘Your lifeless complexion, I should have coloured you in’ – It’s a heart on sleeve moment.

Proceedings are brought back to their grungiest with new single ‘Tiny Legs’, which is another one that builds on the vocals and acoustic guitar before the Smashing Pumpkins drums come in and out as the track builds up to a big climax of heavy guitars. It’s a highlight of the album and the fact they’ve already received plenty of support from Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens is a good indication of their radio friendliness.

Penultimate track ‘Worms’ is smothered in Springsteen production, off kilter major chords, punch the air guitar riffs, big pianos – the works. It’s the type of song that our friends across the Atlantic love and this record is one that could transfer the sextet from Chorley over to the states comfortably.

Then Thickens do the alt rock thing well, Death Cap At Anglezarke is a radio friendly slice of alternative pop. You can see why Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil is championing them as Dirge-y pop, he should know coming from a band who’s mix of pop and alt rock has seen them headline festivals all over the world and Then Thickens seem to have the same ambition as their Scottish pals. Death Cap At Anglezarke is a great start on a road that looks very promising for them.

Rob McCleary