"Exploding Head" is album that combines sonic fury with an urgent adrenaline fuelled pop sensibility. A Place To Bury Strangers clearly don’t fuck about when they play a song, they simply launch headlong into and engulf you in a tsunami of noise laced adrenaline. They also clearly don’t wear the names of bands who have influenced their sound like some sort of badge of honour or to merely to appear 'hip', but these lads clearly have a genuine understanding of and appreciation for bands such as The Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, and it shows. "Exploding Head" sees the band extracting every last drop of raw noise from their instruments whilst melding it into something that is both discordant and harmonious.

At times it sounds like they are attacking their guitars with chainsaws because the sonic thrash assault is relentless and unremitting, but it never feels over done. The album has a definite Jesus and Mary Chain vibe whilst also doffing its 'exploding head' to My Bloody Valentine and the Cure, but the band use their influences to great effect creating a sound that is very much their own. It's relentlessly exciting and it certainly fucks with your head and your ears but it's underpinned by incredibly good musicianship and great songs. It was probably a wise move toning down the noise that was prevalent on their début album because "Exploding Head" is much more accessible and a much better album as a result.


You may not come across A Place To Bury Strangers on daytime radio, but if you like dirty guitar drenched in feedback and great melody then immerse your ears in this album.