Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

Titus Andronicus sounded like they didn’t give a fuck on their debut, ‘The Airing Of Grievances’, which was messy, scuzzy and lo-fi. This second effort also utilises those adjectives, except that it is so much more accomplished; thematically, lyrically and musically. It’s a concept album based on the American civil war, with various quotes relating to the conflict, militaristic drumming, and wonderfully ironic, pseudo-patriotic singing and chanting. Some of the riffs are quite incredible (‘A More Perfect Union’), and the general effect of the whole album is that the listener will want to weep and dance simultaneously. Simply brilliant.

9/10

Steven Garrard