More about: Tigercub

Five years seems a long time. Pre-covid, post-referendum. Thats how long its been since Brighton’s Tigercub put out their seminal debut, Abstract Figures In The Dark. Frontman Jamie Hall has pursued solo projects since then, but now Tigercub are back with a bang. And what a bang it is.

As Blue As Indigo opens with the title track, an acoustic ballad that lasts for about a minute before Tigercub explode into ferocious, sludgy, heavy as fuck rock (don’t have it too loud on your first listen, because it will make you shit yourself). Quite the opener, Hall rages in his lyrics: this is an angry, angsty album. 'Sleepwalker' sounds like a cut straight from an early Royal Blood album: it has that sexy, Queens of the Stone Age swagger to it, a theme that runs deep on this album - Hall and co. have been closely observing the Josh Homme playbook. 

'Blue Mist In My Head' sounds suspiciously similar in parts to the Royal Blood track ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’, which is by no means a bad thing. Mosh pits are clearly at the top of Tigercub’s agenda, they’ve written an album here that will inspire some otherworldly pits when they get the chance to play. 'Stop Beating On My Heart' has the awkward, angular rhythm of an Alt-J track, before (you guessed it) some outrageously filthy bass hooks knock your socks off. The songs here aren’t massively complex, but that's not why we’re here - it's the earth shatteringly heavy balls to the wall rock that gets the juices flowing. 

'Funeral' is a softer cut, Hall utilising the more velvety tones of his voice layered over a simple yet melodic acoustic riff. Strings are added to the mix and the track gives you the opportunity to gather your breath somewhat. 'Built To Fail' is a piano-lead cut, that is once again much softer than the first half of the album. It’s good, too, really showcasing Halls' range as a vocalist and as a songwriter. The track lulls you into a false sense of security, because just as you think this is a soft number, those meaty hooks come right back and knock you off your feet again. 

The second side of the album moves slightly away from the mega-heavy stuff. It still goes hard in parts, but Hall is more vulnerable and the tracks have a more melancholic, reflective sense. 'As Long As You’re Next To Me' is surprisingly funky: it’s got a much more ‘Radio 1’ pop appeal to it before a spectacular middle eight is brought to life with thunderous drum fills. One of the stronger cuts, it really gets your feet tapping. 

Lead single 'Beauty' is the penultimate track and this one is pure Homme. It has the sleaze and the leather jacket swagger of a late QOTSA hit, but it's a clear standout on the album. 'In The Autumn of My Years' closes out the record: it’s Tigercub’s shot at a Bond theme, sounding pretty classically 007 before some Megadeath style snare and guitar kicks in. It doesn’t distract from the Bond-vibes though, it has the right mix (like a martini?) to be a great movie track. It really builds, before Tigercub rock the fuck out one last time.

A great effort overall, from Tigercub. Their sophomore album goes hard in places and funky in others - it’s a great showcase of Halls' versatility, but some of the tracks lack a little depth and seem one dimensional. That being said, these songs are going to go off on stage, so get yourself a £6 pint and prepare to get the shit kicked out of you in the pit because this is an album to be played live.

As Blue As Indigo arrives 18 June via Blame Records.

More about: Tigercub