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Sleigh Bell’s noise-pop of loud, amped-up, often distorted guitars and unrelenting electronic beats are back on this third full-length record. It’s a fair bit poppier and more accessible than 2012’s storming, Reign of Terror but it certainly doesn’t detract from their signature punchy, snarling, combative attitude.
Take for instance the titular track and lead single, ‘Bitter Rival’. Alexis Krauss’ voice is heard under a much more controlled light that may sound like a softer side but lyrically, there is no holding back, “You are my bitter rival, but I need you for survival.”
The duo maintain this commanding and compelling tone throughout the whole record, with tracks such as ‘Minnie’ and ‘You Don’t Get Me Twice’ which will remain stuck in your head for weeks on end with the trademark wisdom that Sleigh Bells provide “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”
Perhaps that’s the charm of this album; whilst the pair from Brooklyn come across as sassy and most certainly a force to be reckoned with, their music is without a shadow of a doubt very accessible. Not just in terms of their style of thinking but the fact that it’s near impossible to not gesticulate with each and every one of your limbs when listening to this on high volume; an experience that feels oddly celebratory.
However sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint just what makes this record work so well. We’ve heard Alexis Krauss’ glorious screams before, Derek Miller’s antagonistic guitars before, paired with industrial hip-hop and dance-punk beats. Maybe it’s the lighter heart that’s shown here. Maybe it’s down to the more positive light shown, but it’s probably not limited to that. And that’s what makes Sleigh Bells all the more captivating. Who knows how they do it, but it’s safe to say that you’ll be pretty entranced by Sleigh Bells once again.
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