Exhalers’ Meat Clown is the third full length album in the space of just over two years from Bangor’s Alan Lynn. The album itself is a one man effort, but a full band has now been assembled for live duties.
Album opener ‘Million dollar Man’ is a twisting mid-paced affair, before things switch up a gear. ‘Devil’s Elbow’ is powered along by an almost Classic metal sounding riff, leading into a frenetic sounding stomp.
Lynn clearly has a new found confidence in his song and lyric writing abilities-‘Discolexic’ takes a few listens before it sticks in your brain, once it does you wonder how it felt like a throwaway track on first play.
‘Portals’ carries with it a slight whiff of Stroke City’s Fighting With Wire (that is a massive compliment to a much underrated band) and is an one of the album’s highlights. Current single and album title track; ‘Meat Clown‘ continues the mostly frenetic pace and includes a wonderfully effective guitar solo.
‘Glitterball’ gallops along sounding like a pre Nevermind Nirvana, whilst ‘Business Casual‘ slows the pace down with a catchy stop/start riff. A bass heavy ‘Snake in the Grass’ slithers along with a sloppy (in a good way) riff. Album closer ‘Gubdumper’ is frenetic, in keeping with the theme of large parts of the album.
Lynn’s ever improving vocals are (intentionally?) a bit low in the mix, but clearly being performed by a multi talented musician. It is astonishing to realise the whole affair has been performed solely by the former LaFaro sticksman (I managed to not mention it until the end!). The drumming as you would expect is exemplary, but more impressive is the fact everything else sounds perfect too.
Releasing three albums in less than three years, a drop in standard would almost be forgiven (but no such Rivers Cuomo quantity over quality here). I look forward to finally catching the guys in a live setting VERY soon.
