If every action has an equal and opposite reaction (or some such other attempt to pretend I paid attention in Science class all those years ago), it is no surprise that Dark Rainbow (International Death Cult) thinks where Sticky bounded in head-first, that it shows vulnerability where its predecessor presented a larger-than-life gregarious face. 

Fifth dance for Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Dark Rainbow sees Frank and partner-in-crime Dean Richardson continue their approach of creating a sound and style for each album that, while it has definable elements that ensures that despite any skin that is shed the remaining vipers are undeniably “Rattlesnakes”, sets each release apart from it’s siblings.

At the heart of the evo-revo-lution is a sensible awareness of what is going on around them in the wider mainstream rock scene without once sacrificing an iota of their own identity. The slick manicured grooves and shiny production are nods and a reference point, not, as others are wont to do, a jumping between bandwagons. This is more a pair of consummate rock pros and songwriting mavericks effortlessly navigating around and to the side of their contemporaries, with a cool-as-fuck “ciao”, as they cruise on in their own slick convertible.

The tracks generally sit in one of two camps, to rock or not to rock, but nary a moment is wasted. Whilst the collective has a more reflective hue than past works, the rock beasts still growl – “Honey” drips in Queens of the Stone Age’s flow, “Brambles” revels in slinky-minky fuzz sparseness and is the closest cousin to End of Suffering, “Happier Days” and “Self-Love” swagger in the rockier brashness that Royal Blood excels, whilst “Superstar” delivers a broodier crash. 

Laced in between them we have the crooner experimentalism of “Can I Take You Home”, the sombre piano-led “Sun Bright Golden Happening” and one of the album highlights, the minimalist and emotive “Queen Of Hearts”. That said the man of the hour is, um, “Man Of The Hour”, which marries the two seamlessly and to great effect, building and bridging, the main hook reminiscent of something James Dean Bradfield may create, and adding a real touch of class.

Standing at the intersection of modern indie, blues rock and mainstream rock, the punk of Carter’s yesteryear may be buried, other than surfacing in the “do what the fuck we want” approach to their albums, but Carter has never been slicker, nor sounded more at home. The natural evolution from the standout End of Suffering, Dark Rainbow rewards with a deeper kind of treasure at its end.

Buy the album here:
https://linktr.ee/FrankCarterAndTheRattlesnakes

8 / 10
STEVE TOVEY