The Barbarians Move In

Duels

DIY

2008-04-28

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Duels’ first record, The Bright Lights and What I Should Have Learned was released in the spring of 2006, but despite great reviews they parted company with then record company Nude and the LP rather sank without a trace. That the two Foulger brothers (Jon and Jim), Jon Maher and James Kirkbright have come back with another excellent record is testament to their determination and also shows that they are one of the UK’s more underrated bands (for how much longer?).

The Barbarians Move In pitches a sound somewhere between Muse’s proggy ambition and QOTSA’s gloomy glam-stomp, but with a more creepy, inward looking tone than the former’s widescreen spaceyness and a fuzzier take on the dynamic rock of Josh Homme et al that veers towards 80s goth-pop.  Despite this referential positioning the LP has a distinct, if retro, identity of its own with the yelped backing vox, tremulous vocal ticks of the lead singer and unsettling jangle of instruments.

Recommended for fans of creepy pop everywhere.

The first half of the LP is stunning. First track “The Furies” is a sinister statement of intent (perhaps railing against perceived injustices ) as Jon Foulger sings “we will find you, and we shall show no mercy” over dark Americana. “Sleeping Giants” is a pop chorus soundtracking the end of the world, “Regeneration” features a Village Of The Damned school choir and “Wolvesland” backs a tale of outsiders with a squalling, dense backing the Bad Seeds would be proud of.

The last five songs take a contemplative turn. The distant, nightmarish “The Wild Hunt” recalls a Tom Waits nursery rhyme, and “The First Time/The Last Time” and title track are fragile things of dark beauty. Duels are able to strip away the layers of distortion and fuzz without losing the base appeal of the songs. The only slight blip is “This Year’s Man” which is a bit anonymous amidst the other highlights, but it shouldn’t be considered much of a criticism. Recommended for fans of creepy pop everywhere.