Liars at the Witch Trial are back with their second album, “Steel Mill Sessions,” which is hot on the heels of their first release last year, “Torches.” In that short time, the Birmingham duo, Kate and Adam, have evolved and grown, using their skill set to the maximum to show what a duo can achieve.
As the title suggests, the album was recorded at KK’s Steel Mill studios, with the help of producer Stale Winton.
The opening track, “Salem,” marches into existence with the chanting vocals of Kate demanding we stand to attention, heavy drums flying around, the rhythm that of a punk nursery rhyme, seamlessly leading into the next track and single, “Peacock.” A track dedicated to those who want to be seen and show off but aren’t all that switched on. “Heart and Soul” feels a little grungier from the get-go, whining guitar atop a delicate drumbeat, with floaty vocals and a recorded snippet thrown in imploring us to just “turn it off.” “Under Control” continues the more indie punk vibe, before an abrupt finish that heads into the seven-minute offering called “Jury’s Out.” Strumming guitar, followed by subtle cymbals before the drums come crashing in, it’s a good minute before the melody starts and Kate’s vocals join the party. At around the four-minute mark, another musical bridge comes in, and the vocals take on a more smoldering edge, leading us down a sultry lane to temptation, the guitar building around the lyrics, and this is the bluesy vibe that takes the song through to completion.
“Help Yourself” starts off in a playful manner, and the track is a nod to the versatility of this band before the final track, “The End,” crashes into existence.
Heavy to start then mellows a little, lyrics “I just wanna move on, so just let me” signaling a relationship that is no longer worth arguing about, or fighting for as it would be pointless. As the track builds, so does the urgency to get the message across.
Each track flows effortlessly into the next creating a narrative that can be pulled together, whilst each song uses their mid-sections to stand out on their own before returning to a tempo that leads us to the next.
These guys have grown and experimented with their sound since the first album, and with a third album surely on the cards, I reckon things can only get even better.
Punk and indie vibes with a splash of Blues deliver an eclectic sound that works.
By: Kate Fitzer