Balaam and the Angel – ‘Love, Death, Wealth, Water’

Alt-Rock

Darklands Recordings

Released

Review By Smudge Smith

Crikey this is a blast from the past. I recall Balaam and the Angel being featured in one way or another in Kerrang! regularly back in the day. I have to be honest I didn’t really catch on to them, but I will delve into their back catalogue on the strength of this four track EP.

Opener ‘Wealth’ brings to mind Bauhaus with its tribal drum beat and acid tongued vocal before ‘Fear Of Poison Water’ brings a whole load of heavy. It tells the real-life story of a botched cyber-attack on a water company where the ‘attackers’ claimed to be in the position to tamper with the chemical balance of water supply using the company’s own computer systems. The domestic supply to thousands of homes would have been poisoned. Moreover, the video for the track brings a new way of working where the band didn’t tell the film maker who they were and they didn’t ask to meet or hear from the film maker. They just provided the music as a starting point and allowed them to create the visuals from what he heard. Check it out on ‘youtube’, it’s a dark and disturbing piece of art that fits the music like a glove.

‘You Are Dead To Me’ brings a swirling keyboard line, some acoustic guitar strum and a laid-back vocal from Mark. Is it a ballad? Maybe. It’s a song of heartbreak where the heartbroken has resigned himself to the fate. There’s a beautiful female voice that is alongside Mark and some wonderful organ lines behind. ‘Love Me Too’ is a bit of dark-glam rock with a simple line and catchy chorus.

Four tracks – all completely different and show the multi sided talent these guys possess. They make things interesting by taking risks and creating sounds you would not expect. Different is good and this is good!

Track List –

Wealth

Fear Of Poison Water

You Are Dead To Me

Love Me Too