A Few Words on... Feeder - All Bright Electric

Back in 2014, Grant Nicholas released an uninspired and dull solo album that only fanned the flames for a return of Feeder, even album after album of meddling returns.

The band's ninth studio album All Bright Electric again asks whether Feeder can return to their glory days of the decades prior or simply settle with pleasing their rabid fanbase.

The good news is the first half of the album is actually pretty good. Whilst Universe of Life will never be anyone's favourite Feeder single, it's a pulsating opener and does give the album a nice shot of adrenaline which it uses to keep going.

Geezer is typical Feeder and again, a very good rock song. Stylistically similar to the sounds of Generation Freakshow and Silent Cry, it's catchy chorus demonstrates how endearing the band can be, despite the multitude of releases before it.

Despite being the longest track on the album, Infrared-Ultraviolet is also another great track. Whilst a slow build, the chorus, whilst not an explosion, is a satisfying one. The song continues to build until the final verse where it crescendos with layers of guitar, a driving beat and Nicholas' vocals, making the five minutes all the more worthwhile.

It's unfortunate that it's here the album peaks and never comes close to topping it. Oh Mary is the recovery song, with acoustic guitar and soundscapes, it's short enough to be inoffensive and does have some nice vocal performances by Nicholas.

But the rest of the album is either more middle of the road rock songs or slower breaks and it drags the rest of the album down. I'm surprised Holy Water was relegated as a extra track on the Deluxe Edition on the album as it should have been swapped for Angels and Lullaby's or Divide the Minority to give the album's second half a final hurrah (that and switch Hundred Liars and Another Day on Earth around but that's just me).

Ultimately, if like me you still like Feeder and had the deluxe edition on pre-order on the day it was announced, there's some decent tracks within, but the overall package again doesn't really try anything new nor best any of the band's previous more stellar releases.

Whilst there's some bright sparks, All Bright Electric is your typical modern Feeder album; decent but capable of much more.

6/10

H

@Retcon_Nation