After The Fall - ConcreteBoots

Fri 15th Jul, 2005 in Music Reviews

From the forthcoming album Always Forever Now (due out on August 21), new After The Fall single Concrete Boots has many good qualities that should ensure the track a solid appreciation amongst fans, as well as the promise of new admirers.

It has all the desirable aspects of a straight-forward, rollicking rock tune. Bashed drums, changes in pace and abundant energy are all present in this track, but Ben Windsor’s vocals are just as impacting as the music – captivating in urgency and appealing in lack of restraint.

The chorus is home to chugging guitar and short, rapid drumming, while the musical break is one of the high points of the song, with squealing, messy guitar work coming to the fore. This is followed by a stripping back of elements, focusing on quieter vocals and somewhat subdued music, before it all comes whalloping out of your stereo once more. Sure, this last hurrah is somewhat predictable in the rock and roll formula, but who cares as long as it works well?

There is enough in this song to maintain your attention all the way through, and it captures an electricity similar to that present at an After The Fall live show. This ability to translate the vigour of a live show into a studio track is one of the most prominent talents of this band.