Northern Irish rock band Therapy? released their highly-anticipated studio album 'Hard Cold Fire'. The album, released on Marshall Records, features ten tracks of grunge-rock and towering melody that sees the trio steadfast and reinvigorated. The band has worked once more with renowned producer Chris Sheldon, who has been a consistent good-luck charm for Therapy? dating back to 1994’s breakout album Troublegum.
What Worked
Over the span of thirty-one minutes, Therapy? packs punch after punch of melodic hard rock. Not a small feat considering the band has been at it since 1992 and continue to impress with concise, catchy rock that has a few unexpected twist and turns. Songs like opener "They Shoot the Terrible Master" and "Woe" feature off-kilter rhythmic changes to break up the straightforward riffing, while tracks like "Ugly" and "To Disappear" chug along with ferocious volume.
What Didn't Work
Bands that do one thing well and stick to it often face the criticism of everything sounding the same. With Therapy?, the issue arises as you move through the record after the initial burst of energy. What differentiates these songs from those heard on Troublegum or Shameless? Taking some creative leaps might benefit the band as their sound is so loud and in-your-face, it can become too much even for such a short release.
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