Death Notes - Lost and Found

by Dave Goodwin

published: 29 / 5 / 2014

Label: Sonic Disruptor
Format: CD

Enjoyable second album from Nottingham-based alternative rock band the Death Notes, their first in an all-male line-up and with a new front man

Review

There was a time when Nottingham was the butt of all jokes for all the wrong reasons - Shootings and gang culture and unemployment and on and on. Slowly over a period of time it has risen from the depths and shone high above the very people who scorned it. One of the reasons for this transformation has been its fantastic music scene that has been kept secret until now. There has been a whole succession of great bands bringing great sounds to the masses, and the Death Notes are no exception. A five-piece alternative rock band, the Death Notes’ first release was a self-titled five-track EP on Sonic Disruptor Records in October 2009. Despite drawing comparisons with Joy Division, Pixies and Sonic Youth, they have had a difficult few years. In 2011 they released their debut album 'Splinter'. They also shared stages amongst others with the Chameleons, but last year they split up with lead singer Elaine and, instead of replacing like with like, they opted for an all male line-up and singer Mark Saxton joined the band, which also consists of Martin Bradley (guitar), Chris Townsend (drums), Jamie Laws (keys) and Dave Lucas (bass. 'Lost and Found' is the Death Notes' second album. Somebody somewhere likened the new line-up to dark 80's Killing Joke, which is a good starting point and I can certainly understand the comparison. Saxton has a slight Julian Cope element exploding out of his mouth in places too. They are, however, not just another 80's based band. Their sound is set very much set in today's post punk and shoegaze scenes. Personally I miss in places the cries and wails of the absent Elaine and feel they could do with a little bit of femininity here and there, but the new line up works well and showcases Saxton's strong indie vocals. Of the ten tracks on offer here, the title track stands out but each has its own venom. The whole album is riddled with surging effervescent guitars which are like that old school chemistry experiment with the chunk of Magnesium in a bowl of water - the guitars fizz along and then calm down a tad before erupting in an explosion of power. Other tasty morsels in here are 'Damnation' and 'Falling from Grace', but all ten are tinged with wonderfully dark and dangerous lyrics. Packaged in an arty black sleeve sporting an orange cactus flower, ‘Lost and Found’ also has an inner booklet with photos and a few bits of info for your reading pleasure. All in all, a new direction? Not really, other than a different sound from the front. A great record, however that should put another band from the city into the limelight. Marvellous!