As a teenager in Northern Ireland during the troubles, live music gigs weren’t always that regular, so it was something very special for us to make our yearly pilgrimage at Christmas time to see Therapy? play Belfast’s Ulster Hall (I still have a copy of the free seven inch ‘Have a merry fucking Christmas!’ which had a cover of Teenage Kicks, given away to the punters). This was pre-Troublegum era, which featured my favourite albums, Baby Teeth and Pleasure Death (mini albums) and then Nurse. The follow up to Nurse of course was Troublegum in 1994, where Therapy? reached both their creative and commercial peak, selling over a million copies. After Troublegum and the departure of drummer Fyfe Ewing in 96, Therapy? turned their back on the short sharp shock pop rock style that made Troublegum, treading a quieter but constant path, releasing albums that explored different styles but still retaining a loyal following if not so much commercial success.
2014 marked the twentieth anniversary of Troublegum with a special edition release along with a tour seeing the band play the album in its entirety live. Perhaps revisiting the songs from Troublegum have inspired the idea of recording a Troublegum Part 2 as it were, or a renewed need for commercial success? Which brings us to Disquiet, Therapy?’s fourteenth studio album.
The album opens with a power rock stomper. Andy Cairns is quick to let us know it Still Hurts with foreboding lyrics ‘this year it gets worse’ and ‘I give up, you’ve won’. There’s a nice return to those post punk style bass lines and progressive guitar styles that have been absent in past albums. It’s a powerful opener that builds to a frenzied crescendo.
These Tides is a washy affair, with tired chord progressions. Good News Is No News begins with that post punk influence creeping in with Cure style guitar notes, a catchy chorus moving closer into power pop riffing and building nicely throughout the song and Fall Behind kicks in with Cairns vocals sounding remarkably like The Offspring. ‘Please don’t let me be another tragedy’ wails Cairns, whilst the drums sound drowned under the guitar.
Cairns’ lyrical disquiet continues on Idiot Cousin, the drumming harks back to Ewing’s unique high-tuned snares and toms style, a welcome return.
Cairns no longer drinks, having been a heavy drinker for a good few years ‘I caught myself on even though it took quite a few efforts’ he states, but he still feels ‘Helpless Still Lost’. ‘Destroyed by alcohol, fear and rage’ he speaks out as the bass line rumbles, this sounds like Therapy? have still that edge, albeit tired and a little frayed.
Insecurity plays a Trigger Inside style riff with Cairns screaming ‘Insecurity’, the song has all the parts we love but never seems to gel, the sharpness simply isn’t there. The song ends with a more progressive style riff, which could have been explored more.
Vulgar Display of Powder playing on the Pantera song title uses a traditional metal riff to power it along with reasonable success, seeing some quirky guitar sounds introduced further into the song.
The album ends with a real Sabbath style kicker, Deathstimate. Doom metal matched with Cairns self-destructively sharp lyrics; this is a strong track to close out the album.
The production on the album sometimes lacks the punch it should with the drums often seeming too far back in the mix. The album has some highlights, the more successful being the slightly more experimental tracks like Still Hurts, Insecurity and Deathstimate, but overall the album never seems to mesh. The sum of the parts just doesn’t come together like they did on Troublegum.
The album is out now and you can be bought at all the usual places including here.
