O'Death - Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin

A brutal and riotous stomp of punk, bluegrass and swing

Album Review by Darren Carle | 16 Sep 2008
Album title: Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin
Artist: O'Death
Label: City Slang
Release date: 22 Sep

O’Death are apparently tired of their recorded output being derided in favour of their live performances. On hearing even one minute of Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin, their third album proper and second for City Slang, it’s difficult to fathom such criticism, especially having been privy to a said live show at an abandoned truck stop in New York. The opening gambit in the gypsy quintet’s battle against their detractors, Low Tide, is a brutal and riotous stomp of punk, bluegrass and swing, coupled with a murderous undertone that sets the blueprint for the album perfectly. If you’ve ever enjoyed Modest Mouse’s sojourns into such territory, then O’Death offer the complete package, the real deal. Singer Greg Jamie lurches from a Neil Young-like whine to, on the barnstorming Ratscars, a belligerent Black Francis yelp, that makes this punchy album a joy from start to finish. Death has rarely held such appeal. [Darren Carle]

O'Death play Nice'n'Sleazy, Glasgow on 28 Sep

http://www.myspace.com/odeath