Mixed Results
Well, Shark Soup are a German punk band, maybe not what you'd quite expect from the Germans but this record is surprisingly catchy. The press release cites The Clash and The Living End as influences, and it's got it just about right but sometimes Shark Soup aren't as tight as either of those two bands. Having said that, this album is a definite grower which takes a few listens before you can truly get into it. For the first half of the record, though, what often happens is that a song starts off like a heat sensitive missile but then it gets to a point where it should end but it doesn't.
'Fighting '59' is a case in point. Where the song should end with a bang, not only does it carry on but it even slows down to resemble some messy ska punk. It's a proper shame as some pruning here and there could have made it a great punk rock tune. Instead, I'm left with the impression it's two songs tacked together with a frustratingly drawn out ending - if only it ended with the punch it promised at the start. 'Holy Water' literally kicks the album off to a flying start with a brilliant, crazy riff that by rights should belong on a horrorpunk album. Sadly, after a while the vocals take the shine off an otherwise great track - the shotgun delivery of the first verse doesn't last, and like with 'Fighting '59', it's frustrating. So far, so fast.
So when 'Johnny Hellgate' rolls around, it's a bit of surprise. There's no furious intro, just a simple guitar riff instead that could be very sinister with the lights off at night and it works rather well. It's not as in your face as the previous songs, and despite being fast, is more chilled out. However, when the vocals turn up I can see a pattern emerging: as much as I like the vocals, which are quite distinctive and a touch like Anthony Kiedis', it's the way they're sung that's a problem. That and the songs are just too long.
It's not all bad news - the second half is much better - and the more I listen to it the more I like it. There are some cracking tunes on 'Fatlip Showbox', not least 'Roadkill Reaction Revolution'. It's a punk instrumental that manages to make the lack of vocals a positive bonus. It seems to have taken inspiration from all over the place, including Westerns and The Living End. Along with 'Burn the Lights Out', it's one of the best tracks on the album. 'Burn the Lights Out' is more subdued and slower than the anything else on the album, leaning towards punk rock. It's so good it's worth putting on repeat, and for once their vocals really work with the tune which sounds a little like Green Day but sounds original.
However, chaos makes a comeback in some style when 'Riddle 'N' Dead' launches itself at you. It's fast, furious and packed into a minute of frantic guitars and singing. It's just what the album needs, and this burst of energy is like a shot of caffeine. Mind you, the same could be said of 'Unbeliever', which channels the spirit of The Living End somewhat but it doesn't matter, it's hard not to like it.
The thing about this album, is the songs on the first half aren't bad by any means, they're just not as good as they could be. So, whilst it might seem that 'Fatlip Showbox' isn't worth listening to, it actually is, particularly with tracks like 'Burn the Lights Out' and 'Riddle 'N' Dead'. Highly recommended.