Panics, The - Cruel Guards (Album)
» The Panics announce tour - October 15, 2008
» The Panics - Metro Theatre, The, NSW - November 14, 2008
» The Panics - Brisbane Powerhouse, QLD - November 7, 2008
» The Panics - The Year of the Panic - January 22, 2008
Numerous interviews and articles on The Panics last album, Sleeps Like A Curse, clearly stated that that chapter of their art was closed and they were moving on. Following up Sleeps Like A Curse would be difficult, and unlike many bands, that second album hit the spot for what they were aiming for. Cruel Guards steps out and up, in different ways in song writing and also in how they recorded this album. Now all the members are living in Melbourne, their change of lifestyle has differentiated their approach on this album to any music they have made previously.
Opening up with 'Get Us Home' definitely strikes the ear of any listener. There is nothing similar in the introduction to any other Panics song and it grabs your attention to what will unfold in the rest of the album. The only Panics feel to the introduction of 'Get Us Home' is the predictable hand claps of the band members. It then evolves into this Hazelwood movie score string introduction completely boasting Laffer’s and M. Wootton’s arranging. By far this is the stand out track on the album, and it deceitfully drops thereafter.
Laffer’s lyrics are forever growing poetically, using eminent lines. Undoubtedly, this catches your ear to what he has to say more than other Panics songs before. Using melodies and harmonies to credit the unyielding sound the band has moulded together definitely shows a growing part of the band. This stands out amongst other things in Cruel Guards.
Cruel Guards is definitely an album that will take a few listens before you can maybe grab at what is going on. Horscroft (The Sleepy Jackson, Silverchair) definitely made his mark on this album with the flamboyant production throughout. The production by Horscroft takes away the band’s “Panics sound”. Everything sounds almost too perfect, other than the vocals on some tracks, which is inevitable from The Panics.
There is the classic Tele clangy guitar riffs from D. Wootton throughout the album that ties in with Otway’s doop-a-loop bass. So, if that is enough for you to check out the album, it is definitely interesting hearing it on another level. Of course, there is Laffer’s simplistic keys on Cruel Guards, outstandingly on the title track. Undoubtedly there are the catchy riffs that Laffer seems to have a nick for, with 'Creaks' keeping in your head all day (maybe so because it is the tune Diaz hums in Shrek).
'Don’t Fight It' is a little overcrowded with the brass not quite fitting and being utilised in the song. It was quite a choice to put out as the first single from the album and it is the half step from the elusive tracks like The General Calling. It may have been to not scare any fans away from where they are growing. However, listening to Cruel Guards in its entirety, there are not many songs like 'Don’t Fight It'.Cruel Guards goes through so many mixed songs and emotions it’s hard to listen along entirely. Though, it is appreciative to hear a different step away, using brass and effectively strings more so than before and melodies all in one album. It does sound quite crowded at times however the experienced song writing that Laffer has in the basic guitars/bass/drums are sound.
Given that Cruel Guards is a turning point album for the band, it is quite exceptional. However, that the aftermath with the extra instruments and some of the production could have been left out as it draws away a realistic feel that comes about with the band’s previous albums. Keeping at what they do, The Panics have some more little steps to get to where they are inevitably going.
