New Model Army – Between Wine And Blood (2 CD)
Between And Wine And Blood is an interesting release for many reasons, firstly because it is equal part EP and live album, secondly because blood clots in drummer Michael Dean's legs caused NMA to cancel a planned 2014 spring tour, the time being filled with recording the EP section of this release and thirdly because it's bloody excellent!
So have two decades altered the Army's attack? Well yes and no, for as soon as "According To You" surges past its rough distortioned introduction, there's no doubt as to who is making this forceful sound. However what is different is just how important Dean's drumming (and special mention also to drummer / percussionist / bass player Ceri Monger) has become to this band, tribal rhythms hammered out through toms and snare, kick drum pinning it all to the floor.
While the vocals from Justin Sullivan simply could not be anyone else and they haven't aged a day in 21 years! If that's a strong start, "Angry Planet" is superb, the fuzzed up riff offering more guitars than the opening number, but again it is the rampaging beats that make the biggest impression alongside a poignant, angry lyric. It's not just the best song on this EP, it's one of the best I've heard all year and no mistake.
From there nothing quite reaches that ridiculously high standard, yet "Guessing" still rolls along with intent, "Happy To Be Here" rumbles into view on claps of thunder and shaking percussion, the song itself a moody atmospheric comment on modern conflict and, in many ways, the lives left behind by it. "Devil's Bargain" once more thumps into view drums hammering, while the restrained synth backing ladles on atmosphere aplenty and "Sunrise" reveals a chorus you'll want to sing along with as Sullivan once more speaks his mind in an amazingly restrained, melodic yet utterly insistent way. Across all six songs multi-instrumentalist Dean White adds swathes of guitar, keys, backing vocals and more percussion, while Marshall Gill's guitar is vital to the success of the songs.
The title of this release actually came from the lyrics of the title song of the New Model Army 2013 album Between Dog And Wolf, so it is fitting, especially with numerous selections of live offerings from the band already in circulation, that all the tracks on the live disc are culled from ...Dog And Wolf. The band are proud of that album and on this eleven track showing so they should be. The formula is similar to the EP, drums leading from the front, guitars battering their way through, keys adding atmosphere, Sullivan again proving an engaging vocal presence that you simply can't ignore.
Whether it's the (fittingly) thunderous "Stormclouds", the snarl of "March In September", the gentle persuasion of "Pull The Sun", or the swirling gallop of "Horsemen" this live set delivers the goods again and again. Yes the crowd noise is a little low in the mix to really infuse an "I was there" feel and the lack of any early material may surprise some. However as a lost follower of New Model Army, the set-list and performances do the job, as I now know I want to hear the album all these songs originate from.
If you too have a band that fell by your musical wayside, maybe it's time you caught up with them again. If they're as good as New Model Army are on Between Wine And Blood, you're in for a shockingly exciting treat. Please accept my apologies New Model Army, I've been away too long...
Label: Ear Music – 0209761ERE
Country: Germany
Media Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)
Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)