New Model Army - Thunder And Consolation

1989 was a pinnacle year in music, especially for many bands in the UK. The Cure's 'Disintegration' album, as well as the Stone Roses historical debut were both released. To no lesser extent, in my opinion, New Model Army's 4th album 'Thunder and Consolation' also hit the shops.

Preceded just a few years earlier by the album 'Ghost of Cain' which introduced then 17 year old bass player Jason 'Moose' Harris, who along with drummer Robert Heaton really helped to shape the sound of the band on their two most well received albums.
On the 'TAC' album, the group continues to solidify their brand of 'Celtic-Punk Rock' with songs featuring a more acoustic, folk influenced sound, a tradition which seemed to really gain force on 'Ghost of Cain'. But don't be put off, the sound of the band is in fact quite aggressive. There is a cover by Sepultura of 'The Hunt' off the 'Ghost of Cain' album.

Beginning with the frightening, apocolyptic vision that is 'I Love the World' the album begins. Opening with a synth line that sounds as if it is anticipating some kind of impending doom, the bass and guitar begin to rumble as if slowly awakening from some long slumber. The synth line turns into orchestral stabs, as a voice begins to tell the story... 'The roll of distant thunder breaks/The afternoon of silence wakes'. The beast has awoken, Justin Sullivan, a lyrical soothsayer, with a voice that passionately recalls thousands of years of humanity's history with every word. Within a few bars, the drums begin to pound away relentlessly as Sullivan continues his manifesto, lashing out at the carlessness of humanity.

The strumming of an acoustic guitar brings momentary comfort and lets you know the nightmare is over, at least for a time. A hard rocking tyrade against the music press of the 1980s, 'Stupid Questions' is hardly one of the better tracks of the album, but not a bad tune at all.

'225' is the third track of the album, and for me is the definite highlight. A riff that chuggs along perfectly with Robert Heatons solid, hypnotic drumming style. "This golden age of communication/Means everyone talks at the same time" Sullivan's voice is torn between hopefulness and despair, as he tells of the alienation caused by technology in the 20th century. He pleads 'Turn off the tv just for a while/And let us whisper to each other instead". Within these verses, the idea that we are truly living in an Orwellian society is realized..."I swear we never asked for any of this".

'Green and Grey', is the other real stand out rack on 'TAC'. Possibly the bands most popular song, and rightfully so. A mournful sounding classical guitar intro takes you into a heavy acoustic ballad, backed by forceful drumming. The story of a dear friend who left the trappings of a small town for the glory of life in the big city, but still 'The Pubs are all full on Friday nights/And things get started still'. The chorus hits you like a ton of bricks, leaving that feeling in the pit of your stomach as if you've fallen from some great height, "And tomorrow brings another train/Another young brave steals away/But you're the one I remember/From these valleys of green and the grey". Sullivan writes wearily of the ambitions of this unnamed character, he asks "Is it true that the world has always got to be something/That seems to happen somewhere else?".

The album deals with many themes on a universal level, as well as touching on the more personal as well. While the album deals with topics such as family and relationships, it also deals with politics, religion and technology and the alienation these subjects often cause. For anyone who as ever thought 'Why am I worried about 'this', when 'such' is happening somewhere else in the world?" Sullivan has a rare skill that seems to put this questioning into perspective. Always balancing between discussing one's personal struggle, as well as the much larger picture at hand, which is the world we all live in, Sullivan's ability to find this perfect equilibrium is what makes New Model Army a truly great band lyricaly as well as musically.

Often the band is lumped into the horrible genre term of 'post-punk', which dont get me wrong, often does fall upon many bands I listen to, but is overall an irritating and inaccurate label. The fact is New Model Army go above and beyond any menial genre, and have recorded some great stuff even into the 90s, and 00's with the release of Justin Sullivans solo album which I highly recommend especially if you are a fan of songs such as 'Green and Grey'. Be sure to check out their early release 'Vengeance' as well as 'Ghost of Cain', and 'Impurity' which is the next album after 'TAC'. All albums feature incredible sleeves designed by long time accomplice to the band Joolz Denby, so don't just download/youtube them, get out to those record shops and dig! They also still tour regulary, and are WELL worth seeing live... - Joe Western