The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
This incendiary album proves to be their finest effort to date.
Keith and Maxim's absence caused a disappointing reluctance to accept 2004's Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, which is a shame as though their weakest effort, it was still a fine album. But with the two MC's properly reinstalled, one of the albums Rocklouder has been getting stupidly excited about has proven better than we could have imagined.
Exploding to life with a strong pairing of singles; the title-track is a thundering, pulsing opening statement, and follow-up 'Omen' perfectly encapsulates what the band are doing with this album. What they are doing is combining everything they've done before rather than taking the usual step forwards, so the crossover attack begun on Jilted Generation and perfected on Fat Of The Land collides forcibly with the dirty beats of AONO and – more obviously – the hyperactive rave of their début. Rather than seeming lazy, the results are something utterly fresh and more destructive than ever before.
Despite the rock drumming of Dave Grohl on the gnarly 'Run With The Wolves', this is very much a dance record, yet 'IMD', 'Omen', 'Thunder' and 'Colours' are heavier than most of the guitar-based albums we get through the RL letterbox. The latter track in particular sounds like Gallows had they preferred glowsticks and whistles to hardcore and tattoos. 'Take Me To The Hospital' and 'Warrior's Dance' (both phenomenal live) are there to teach the Skins generation what a rave actually is, but the warped synth and bass pulses are powerful enough shake you to your bones.
It's aggressive, dirty and never less than intense; the album ends in a surprise turnaround, as the uplifting 'Stand Up' sounds like The Chemical Brothers playing The Go! Team and is destined to leave you with a grin plastered on your face. While not as innovative as their previous releases, it is instead a perfect combination of everything that is good about this band; as much a punk album as it is dance, The Prodigy have never compromised, and as a result this incendiary album proves to be their finest effort to date.
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