Album Review: Coloursound - "Coloursound II"

 

Originally formed as a collaboration between Mike Peters from the Alarm, Billy Duffy from the Cult, Craig Adams from the Mission and Steve Grantley from Stiff Little Fingers, this second Coloursound album has surfaced a mere 22 years after the group's first. Adams and Grantley are absent for this effort but Peters and Duffy are both present and correct having reconnected with each other during lockdown and come up with a new set of songs. I have to admit that despite being a fan of both of their day bands, I missed the group's debut so wasn't quite sure what to expect here to be honest.

My honest thoughts are that this is a solid album rather than a great one. Peters and Duffy are both on good form here with the latter cranking out the riffs with relish (the grinding Eye For An Eye being a particular highlight) and the former in full on "preacher on the hillside" mode (even if he does drift a bit worryingly near to sounding like Bono in the odd place). I think the big problem with this is that despite the whole "Alarm with added riffs grafted on to them" sound which I actually quite like, Coloursound II just seems to lack a really killer tune to stand out from the pack. There's a few occasions where they come close such as on the fierce Lightning Strikes and The Other Side and the call to arms of Revelation while the atmospheric spooked out closer Mourning Call shows a bit of variety to their work but that proper knockout blow is just frustratingly out of reach for the most part.

It's still a respectable workmanlike effort and there's plenty here for Alarm and Cult fans to enjoy but overall I just get the feeling that Coloursound II could have been that little bit more special than it is - given the choice, you might be better advised to go and get the Alarm's recent excellent War album instead if you've not already.

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑🌑 (7/10)

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