Team work goes a long way on this record.
Is Team a good name for a band? Does it show a sense of unity or just leave vagueness around them? To be honest, does it really matter as this Leicestershire band knock out their second album and aim to knock out their competitors as well.
The curiously titled 'Ink Invisible' is the opening track on 'The Line From A-B' and once it gets going from its slow, dark intro it livens up considerably. The vocals trade between band members quickening the pace and weaving around a sturdy guitar riff. As opening tracks go, it's quite a good introduction and a sizeable statement of intent.
The immediate influences on Team come across as sounding like a cross between Faith No More, Soundgarden and a lighter version of Pantera. Its metal but it is a form of metal that can be enjoyed by fans of different genres. The guitars are not always about power, there is quite a lot of clarity and clear tone that gives a different sound from what could be expected from the band. As with most heavy bands, it is the back end that picks up the heaviness, with the intro to 'Punk Rock Motors' showing this very well. The track is quite a revelation with backing vocals almost whispering but they make the song and give it a counter point to the spoken rant.
The interesting things about bands are that sometimes its only one instrument that can decide what genre an act belongs to. 'Middle Middle Radio' features a guitar sound with lots of fuzz but this aside, its pretty similar to The Killers 'Indie Rock N Roll.' Nearer the end of the track, it gets heavier and maybe reverts to type but it indicates the versatility of Team. Perhaps they will struggle to find a market as they sit between a few genres and offer a lot but this should be commendable.
It's a relatively compact album, which doesn't overstay its welcome. At times the slow, fast, slow pattern is obvious but when it works, it has a punch the air feeling to it. Album closer 'One Side Of A Conversation' sweeps the listener along with preacher esque vocals powering over insistent rhythms, freewheeling to the end of the record.
After their debut record was self-finances, Team have pushed on to make a strong, heavy record that shows a variety of influences and is commendable in its own right.