Album review: Welcome The Ironists (Caracal)

SINGAPORE — Forget about the pigeonholing, ignore all the categorisations and let’s put this in simple terms: Caracal’s sophomore effort is one of the best modern rock albums we have ever heard. And that’s not mere hyperbole. Every single track on this impressive album is imbued with a creative work ethic that is as visceral as the music. The melodies are crisp, the performances are dynamic, the arrangements are inventive and singer KC Meals takes it to unprecedented levels. Special mention must be made about the production work by Leonard Soosay and the band — the music jumps at you and punches you in the face right from the get-go. Highlights are numerous but God Damn Tree, the irresistible nature of There Was a Man, the pummelling menace of Wikus, the epic scope of Disaster Affinity and the strident anthemic quality of the title track are notable tracks. “I hate that I love this chaos” off Welcome The Ironists seems to be the thematic underpinning of this wonderfully incongruous album. Yes, in the hands of Caracal, the negativity of life has been converted into positive energy and life affirming music. Caracal launches Welcome The Ironists at The Substation on Dec 18.