Howling Bells - TheLoudest Engine

Tue 13th Sep, 2011 in Music Reviews

Australian-formed, London-based rockers Howling Bells return to the limelight with their new album The Loudest Engine. However the band appears to be not only comfortable, but disappointingly so.

Much of The Loudest Engine was penned throughout a year-long touring adventure and it seems to be a product of the dry monotony that comes with life on the road. It’s unfortunate that the album sticks steadfastly to brooding melancholy as this is far from uncharted territory for the band.

Second track Into The Sky offers some electricity as Juanita Stein’s lofty delivery combines with a squealing lead guitar. The album’s more intimate stretches also sit among the overall highlights, the breezy acoustic affair of Don’t Run providing some light relief. “Don’t close the door on me,” Stein pleads, the song’s chorus emerging a bittersweet joy. Meanwhile, The Wilderness proves a little less successful, appearing fragmented and confounding in its composition. The song’s outro reflects nicely that which the title suggests – an interlude of whimsical cymbal-crashing fury ensuing – though just why the track needed seconds of utter desolation to precede its finale seems inexplicable.

On the whole, The Loudest Engine feels unimposing, ultimately suffering from a disjointed ebb and flow in quality before succumbing to a serviceable yet inoffensive plateau. It’s just fine – and yet that’s half the problem. There’s little to suggest Howling Bells have dared or expended any wild creativity in crafting The Loudest Engine and, as a result, it’s likely listeners will too easily find their attention span falling by the wayside with each passing moment.

Fans will no doubt find some value in taking The Loudest Engine for a spin, though it seems improbable that Howling Bells will be making too much of a splash in 2011. Unfortunately, their third album is merely a serviceable release that could use more than a little spark across the board.