McQueen - Break the Silence
by Sarah Maybank
published: 21 / 1 / 2007
Label:
Demolition
Format: CD
intro
Slick debut album from all girl punk metal group McQueen, whom seem destined for major league success
Sullen-faced and short of skirt, McQueen work that evil Lolita thing which has panting rock boys tussling with sweaty pervs for the all-important centre-front spot of every stage they step on to. Glowering out of the inner album sleeve with expressions that threaten "We’ll beat you to death with our straighteners as soon as look at you", they deliver sleek, machine-tooled hard raaawk, in which they vent about how sick they are of relationships, life, and all the other things hot girl rock bands get sick of (a topless waiters’ strike in the Viper Room perhaps ?). With half the tracks throbbing with Iron-Maiden-esque duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh guitar down-strokes, and the rest seething with speed-of-sound riffs, it’s up to vocalist Leah Duors to add texture. She obliges by adopting Brody Dalle’s she-bear growl ('Neurotic', 'Not For Sale'), a weary, hungover moan ('Don’t Know How To Break It To You') or a Slipknot-style howl ('Break The Silence', which is so fierce even the sunlight-shunning algae at the bottom of the Marianas Trench have reinforced defences in order to deter the band from ever visiting). There’s nothing about McQueen – sound or image-wise - that can’t be filed under ‘Joan Jett goes back to reform school’. Snigger as much as you want, though, indie kids. This lot excel at the hooky punk metal riffs that got everyone hot and bothered about Nirvana, and do it so professionally they make Ferrari look like a go-kart manufacturer. And now that metal proper is on the rise again, expect to seem them tumbling out of a limo and onto the Grammys red carpet in a tangle of JD bottles, royalty cheques and grovelling yes-people within the year.
Track Listing:-
1 Neurotic2 Dirt
3 Running Out Of Things To Say
4 Break The Silence
5 Numb
6 The Line Went Dead
7 Blinded
8 Bitch
9 Not For Sale
10 (Don't Know How To) Break It To You
11 Running Out Of Things To Say (video)
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart