One Track Mind

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Since their formation in December of 2000, The Futureheads have experienced their fair share of highs and lows. Their cover of Kate Bush’s “Hounds of Love” was named the Best Single of 2005 by NME but was ultimately dropped from their label after their sophomore effort. However, early indicators suggest that The Futureheads are about to unleash their strongest effort to date. Their fourth full-length record, The Chaos, will hit shelves on June 1st courtesy of Dovecote Records and is chock full of hard charging anthems. While things don’t veer too far from the band’s established template (Barry Hyde’s passionate, accented vocals; his brother Dave’s frenetic take on post-punk drumming; Ross Millard’s shredding guitar chords and angular riffs; and Jaff Craig’s hammered-out bass lines), there is a sense that the band is firing on all cylinders on this release, that everything has clicked with a cohesive brilliance.

Exhibit A is “Struck Dumb,” the album’s ninth track, clocking in at a blistering 2:50. It begins with a repeated jab-jab-cross combo as the musicians bash out a series of chords. Then Barry’s vocals enter the mix and the verses ignite. However, if the verses are aflame, the choruses are positively explosive. Dave’s drumming during the end of these passages rides the hi-hat fast and furious, driving home the urgency and intensity of the accompanying blazing guitars. An a capella break two-thirds of the way through is unexpected and highly effective, catching the listener off guard and acting as a fantastic complement to the rabid frenzy that surrounds the moment. If you are a fan of The Futureheads’ brothers in arms like Maximo Park or The Libertines, chances are this song will have you struck dumb, too.