The Exceptional Mr. Hyde release their new album on 10th November, and it has been on rotation here in Mayhem Towers for a while. It is an album that bears repeated listening, and with each spin, it seems to build more power. It starts with “Burn” with magnificent riffing and screaming guitars. It carries a dark and angry mood. The lyric “heads up your obsequious arses” definitely conveys an angry contempt for someone. There is a dark gothic disco feel to “Steal” which leans toward a heavier Sisters Of Mercy sound. The album moves into almost ballad territory with “She Cries” a tune that might be perfect on the soundtrack of a classy British horror film. Speaking of horror, “Falling Down” is one of the best tracks on the album, but listening to it on headphones in the dark it has a sometimes disturbing tone with the potential to scare. The guitars on “Crashland” have quite a jaunty pop style, but Phil’s vocals add a more sinister vibe to it.
The riffage on “Sleeping Bag” is truly mountainous and the vocals suggest Lemmy in a nightmare. The drums here drive the track perfectly. The sound belies the title as there is no way you could fall asleep to it! The synths are sumptuous and I assume they result from the credited wizardry of Karl Marsden. The recent single “Solemn Power” is an absolute banger and in a recent singes review I said “Is this electro dance or heavy rock? Actually, it is both. If Hawkwind began in the 21st century it might sound like this” I stand by that opinion, the song is the perfect blend of electro dance and thumping heavy rock. Weirdly drum ‘n’ bass tones make an appearance on “Control” and they are highly effective. Is there an argument for a new genre here, Goth ‘n’ Bass anyone? The synths on “Control” suggest the early industrial-style stuff from Gary Numan. The album closes with “Another Picture” which I think is another film soundtrack contender, maybe a Sci-Fi/ Horror classic. It has everything but the kitchen sink and the whole band is on fire here. After four or five listens this is the song that has stayed in my head. If you love good music you need to check this album out!
Lead vocalist Phil Montgomery also told me the rather intriguing story of the cover. He did say it might be too long for this piece, but personally I found it too interesting to leave out or precis. He said “The background photos used are from a derelict, abandoned 1920’s hotel and destroyed complex in Croatia that I explored a few years ago. The story is really interesting and a tale of scandal and debauchery. As a hotel it was used by the rich and famous, boasting working hostesses that were called the guests ‘pets’, the swimming pool was rumoured to have been filled with champagne at one point. Then it slid into decline followed by civil war breaking out. It became populated by refugees that stripped it bare of its luxurious furnishings. Then the soldiers moved in and used it as a base, finally being attacked from the sea by the opposition. It’s very close to Dubrovnik. It’s fascinating, walls destroyed by shells and peppered with bullet holes. The front cover is one of the internal rooms in the hotel. To Mr Hydes left, if you zoom in, is a woman depicting innocence (holding a lamb and a baby), to his right is The Trickster, a Loki type character. The electricity is supposed to be their influence on his character. The background portrays the world, his playground. 😀 The rear cover depicts the world burning in the sky, this relates to the global warming/current deforestation/threat of extinction of species etc. The derelict buildings are from the same hotel complex as the front cover and relate to the greed and debauchery of the past, decline and war. The tank hovering in the back represents the ever present threat of war, power and control. The man in the suit represents money or governmental power with the head of an eyeball linking to big brother tactics. The electricity demonstrates how the men in the suits/power make us not only dance to their tune but enjoy it without abandon at the same time“.
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