[AlbumOTD] Sonic Boom Six - SONIC BOOM SIX

Artist: Sonic Boom Six

Genre: Electronica/Punk/Rock/Hip-Hop
Location: Manchester, UK.
Label Type: Indie
Record Label: Xtra Mile Recordings

Website: http://www.sonicboomsix.co.uk 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/sonicboomsix

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/sonicboomsix 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sonicboomsix

Sonic Boom Six’s eagerly awaited eponymous fourth studio album hits the shops tomorrow (Monday 15^th October), when it is released on their new label Xtra Mile Recordings. As ever with the Boom it features an eclectic mix full of passion and high-energy, but this particular record has a little something extra. Even whilst keeping very much in touch with the ethos and principles of SB6, it combines heavy beats to produce more fun, party tunes than any of the previous albums. Not one to be tied down to any specific scene or genre by the strings of the music culture, the Boom are one band who have come out the other end of a politically-infused ska-punk scene which has seen many others fall by the wayside. The self-titled album goes further than they have ever gone before, where instead of preaching to the converted they aim to appeal to the masses, challenging perceptions and attempting to change minds and viewpoints.

This is the Manchester-based quintet’s first studio album since the departure of co-writer Ben Childs in 2009 which saw the release of their last album ‘City of Thieves’. Child’s departure coincided with a marked increase in the use of electronica, synths and drum & bass with the band not limiting themselves to any parameters. Furthermore, it sparked a reshuffle with the introduction of Jimmy T. Boom allowing Barney Boom to prosper as co-vocalist with his raps complementing the squeaks of frontwoman Laila K perfectly in a new era for SB6. In line with keeping the essence of the band, brass continues to feature on the new record, specifically on ‘The High Cost of Living’, ‘S.O.S. (State of Shock)’, and prominently on ‘Karma is a Lady’. The beginning of the former also showcases a splash of dubstep highlighting a combination which portrays exactly what this album is about. It retains the previous ideals of the band whilst incorporating new, fresh sounds.  

Obvious highlights include the previously released ‘For the Kids of the Multiculture’ and ‘Virus’. The latter comprises the use of a vecoder over Laila’s vocals in an attempt to resemble that of a computer virus in keeping with the title of the song. Lyrically, it focuses more on looking at the brighter side of life in times of selfish politicians, poverty and the torrid state of the current economic climate. The political theme is one which runs right the way throughout the 10-track offering, and has done right throughout the career of Sonic Boom Six with this album tailored more toward current issues. They focus particularly on the failure of the government to notice and appreciate the man on the street, and in the case of the truly powerful ‘Gary’s Got a Gun’, questioning the need of sending out our troops to war. Further lyrical content concentrates on the multicultural British society, and ‘The High Cost of Living’ speaks for itself, putting in to perspective the true origins of the stuff we buy. ‘Karma is a Bitch’ is sure to be a fan favourite, putting an emphasis on how karma can bite you in the ass. However, the final track, ‘Karma is a Lady’ looks at Karma from the opposite angle, in that it can be a good thing if treated properly, and abided by correctly. ‘S.O.S. (State Of Shock)’ is another song which is bound to reach wider audiences, already receiving radio airplay, possibly due to the fact that it features Kerrang! Radio DJ Matt Stocks as an emergency radio broadcaster. Another to feature on the album is Jim Sorrow with his masterstroke inclusion on ‘Who Will Survive (and What Will be Left of Them?)'. However, possibly the best track on the album is ‘Keep On Believing’, a real party rock anthem integrating gang vocals, which are also made use of on ‘Flatline’.

Huge vocal hooks and crushing rock riffs still remain on the album but overall it will undoubtedly divide opinion among SB6 purists. Nevertheless, it will also increase exposure and see the Boom pick up many new fans, which they hope to do on their full UK tour next month starting on November 2^nd. Below you can catch a glimpse of the video for ‘Virus’, directed by the magnificent Jesse Davey. 

Matthew Evans