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Review: 'Kerbdog'
'Congregation'   

-  Album: 'Congregation'
-  Genre: 'Rock' -  Release Date: '6th October 2014'

Our Rating:
I can’t be alone in considering Kerbdog as being one of the many also-ran bands of the 90s. While their first album saw then lauded as bright new hopes, the second album bombed, saw them dropped by their label and saw the band call it a day a year later. But evidently, they had their fans, and it’s interesting to see Frank Turner and Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neill providing glowing testimonials. They’re not exactly ‘back’ with this release – a live album which features a solitary new studio track – but having been recorded over three live dates in 2012 year, it’s indicative of their first activity since, their occasional reunion shows notwithstanding, and the first new track since 1997’s ‘On the Turn’.

Still, what the 16 live tracks, pulled together from shows recorded in Dublin, Bristol and London, do provide is a reminder of just how much balls the Irish grungers actually had, sonically speaking. Big, gritty guitars driver and dominate the sound, and there’s an undeniable energy to these live cuts.

It’s interesting to note the running order: the first seven tracks are lifted from the second album, and only four of the songs in total (‘Dry Riser’, Earthworks’, ‘Scram’ and ‘End of Green’) representing their eponymous debut. Still, they attack the material with an undeniable passion and if they do tend to veer toward the poppier end of the grunge spectrum at times, fair play: few people beef too hard about Nirvana being too pop with tracks like ‘Sliver’.

Studio cut ‘Electricity’ is actually reminiscent of Irish peers Therapy? crossed with countless alt-rock acts. Boasting a big, melodic chorus, it’s not bad but sadly, hardly feels essential. That said, I very much doubt the fans who’ve been waiting 17 years for a new release will complain about any of this release.
  author: Christopher Nosnibor

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Kerbdog - Congregation