Reviewer: Sarah Jamieson

Released: 9th March 2015

Label: Noise Church Records

It’s been almost a decade since Cancer Bats first came snarling into the hardcore punk scene, with raw voices and blood still fresh on their knuckles. Since then, they’ve tread many paths – whether under their current moniker or in the guise of their Black Sabbath tribute band Bat Sabbath – and covered much ground. It’s with their fifth album, ‘Searching For Zero’, that the quartet attempt to piece together their past – from musical styles to personal hardships - and, to some degree, pull it off.

What’s clear from the outset is that their promise of a more ‘bare bones’ sounding record has been realised. At times, their stripped-back approach works explosively, with tracks like ‘Arsenic In The Year Of The Snake’ and ‘All Hail’ providing the punch in the throat that the band have been so good at throwing previously. During moments, though, it seems to stretch them too thin, with ‘Beelzebub’ sounding uncomfortably laboured by the end of its four minutes.

On the other hand, there’s ‘Devil’s Blood’ which sees the band thrust themselves in headfirst with a shock of adrenaline, harking back to the older gems of their debut. In amongst the raw edges of their new effort, they also maintain the groove and flair that they showcased throughout the offerings of ‘Hail Destroyer’, with ‘Cursed With A Conscience’ a dark, swaying anthem awash with guitars.

Approaching the conclusion of ‘Searching For Zero’, it’s clear that the band have worked hard to build upon their already-solid sound whilst exploring some new avenues. For the majority of tracks, they succeed in their goals. It’s only when looking back at the whole picture, somehow the pieces don’t quite appear to fit.

Tags: Album Reviews, Reviews, Cancer Bats

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