Courtesy: Despotz Records
Satan Takes A Holiday returned this spring with its fifth full-length studio recording. The album, A New Sensation is an interesting new effort from the Swedish rock band. Once again the band has produced a record with very distinct neo-classic rock sounds that can easily be likened to music from the likes of Royal Blood, Queens of the Stone Age and Horisont just to name a few similar acts. The album’s lyrical content presents just as much to interest listeners. As a news release stated of the album’s lyrical themes, “A New Sensation deals primarily with the shock of the new. Old and new power structures, old and new angers, old and new fears, old and new men – all being challenged, questioned and made fun of.” The combination of those elements is certain to appeal to the band’s most devoted fan base. ‘Unicorn,’ which comes early in the album’s run, is one of sings featured in the record that serves to support that statement. It will be discussed shortly. ‘Kingslayer,’ which comes later in the album’s sequencing, is another of the album’s featured songs that serves to support the noted statements. It will be discussed a little later. ‘Blow,’ which closes out the album, is one more example of what makes the album appealing for the band’s most devoted fans. When it is considered along with the previously noted songs and the rest of the album’s entries, the whole of A New Sensation becomes a work that the band’s fans will welcome as much as the band’s previous works.
Satan Takes A Holiday’s latest full-length studio recording is a work that will appeal to the band’s most devoted fans just as much as the trio’s past albums. It presents a familiar sound and a little bit of something new for listeners in its musical arrangements along with lyrical themes that are sure to get people talking. ‘Unicorn,’ which comes early in the album’s run, is just one of the song’s that illustrates those statements. The song’s arrangement is very much akin to the songs composed by the members of Royal Blood, with its fuzzed, garage rock sound. Honestly, if listeners were to hear this arrangement without knowing it was Satan Takes A Holiday, said audiences would think this was Royal Blood. Whether that is good or bad is left to one’s own decision. That aside, it is certain to keep listeners engaged. The song’s lyrical content is just as certain to keep listeners engaged as its musical content.
Front man Fred Burman sings in the song’s lead verse, “I got in trouble/Turned 17/Inside my bubble/I want to be/You had a stern tone of voice/Making so much noise/I feel still/The breaking of will/Now 25/Oh can’t you see/So full of answers/So full of dreams/You got to give ‘fore you get/While I’m hedging all my bets/Maybe a writer/Maybe a unicorn/They gonna give it to ya/Hey, Mr. Bossman can’t you see/A shining diamond from the day I was born/You need to be real good to me.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “Now old and seasoned/Indie vampire/All sense of reason/Into the fire/Your win is my kind of loss/So nail me to the cross.” This is an interesting statement from Burman. On the one hand, it comes across as a coming-of-age tale of sorts, telling a story of someone who has changed from one age to another. As a result of those changes, that person has had a changed view of life. On another hand, it could easily be something completely different, and the earlier interpretation could very well be incorrect. Hopefully it is somewhere in the proverbial ballpark. Regardless of right or wrong, such writing style is certain to generate its own share of interest and discussion. When this is considered along with the song’s familiar musical styling, the song in whole becomes a work that is just one example of why the band’s most devoted fans will enjoy this record. It is just one example of what makes the album appealing to that noted fan base. ‘Kingslayer,’ which comes late in the album’s run is another addition to the album that is certain to appeal to the band’s fans.
The steady, keyboard and heavy bass-driven arrangement at the heart of the song instantly makes the arrangement infectious. Again, the Royal Blood likeness is there, but it’s not the only influence that is evident. Listeners could also make a comparison here to songs from Muse just as much as Royal Blood. To that end, the song’s brooding sound and steady time keeping builds a strong foundation for its overall presentation. It is just one part of what makes the song appealing. The song’s lyrical content adds its own share of interest to the song.
Burman sings in the song’s lead verse, “Take care/I’m a wanted man/Cold sare/An open hand/Follow me/Follow me/I know you can/Don’t sleep/It’s a devil’s night/Keep it simple/Keep it tight/Follow me/Follow me tonight.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “Felt something/Felt it right/Blood running/Pink lights/Follow it/Follow it/All your might/Deep colors/A siren sound/Hold it harder/Hold it down/Swallow me/Swallow me/Alright.” Again, the story behind this song is certain to generate its own share of discussion among listeners. Even this critic is left curious to know the story here. The metaphorical language in this case is that cryptic. Considering the discussion that this song is sure to generate through this lyrical content and the song’s infectious musical arrangement, the end result is yet another example of why A New Sensation will appeal to STAH’s fans. It still is not the last of the album’s most notable entries. ‘Blow,’ the album’s finale, is one more example of what makes the album so appealing to the band’s most devoted fans.
‘Blow’ stands out in part because of its musical arrangement. Whereas so many of the arrangements presented throughout A New Sensation can so easily be likened to works from the likes of Royal Blood, Queens of the Stone Age, etc. this song’s musical arrangement is more of a full-on punk arrangement that harkens back to the grungy stylings of The Sex Pistols. That alone gives listeners plenty of reason to listen to this song. It is just one part of what makes the song interesting. The song’s lyrical content is even more certain to get listeners talking.
Burman sings in the song’s lead verse, “Think you s*** smells sweeter than most?/A real cold fish on the wrong damn coast/I locate things from time to time/Pharmaceutical west coast grime/All worked up and I’m ready to go/Make you kings of the rock ‘n’ roll show/All worked up/Are you ready to go/Medicate away your low/You want blow?/Here we go/One, two, three, four.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “Me and my friends will sort you out/Rocks, bump, snow, dust, give us a shout/Make you queen/I’ll make you king/Make you feel every single thing/All worked up and I’m ready to go/C*** in hand and a sharp elbow/All worked up/Are you ready to go/Medicate away your low.” The immediate assumption here is that this is addressing the issues of drug abuse. Of course that is just from looking at the lyrics on the surface. In trying to decipher what these lyrics may or may not mean on a deeper level, the song’s real interpretation is left for the band to discuss. Again, the fact that it is certain to generate plenty of discussion and interpretation in itself makes for plenty of interest. That, along with the song’s enjoyable old school punk rock arrangement, creates a presentation in the song that makes this song stand out even more. When the interest generated by this song is considered along with the interest generated by ‘Unicorn,’ ‘Kingslayer’ and the rest of the album’s entries, the album in whole shows without doubt why fans of Satan Takes A Holiday will appreciate this latest offering from the band.
Satan Takes A Holiday’s latest full-length studio recording is another offering from the band that its most devoted fans will appreciate. That is due to the record’s collective musical arrangements and its lyrical themes, which themselves are certain to generate plenty of discussion among the noted audiences. That is proven through all three of the songs featured in this review. When they are considered along with the overall content of the rest of the album’s songs, the whole of A New Sensation proves to maybe not be so new, but still a sensation for fans nonetheless. A New Sensation is available now. More information on the album is available online now along with all of Satan Takes A Holiday’s latest news and more at:
Website: http://www.satantakesaholiday.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/satantakesaholiday
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SatanTAHoliday
To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
philspicks 