Album Review

Love Amongst Ruin – Love Amongst Ruin

• 10th Sep 2010

It’s always a nice sensation, being pleasantly surprised. Like getting let out of work early, bumping into an old friend or finding a tenner at the bottom of your pocket. It is just that feeling which makes giving former Placebo sticksman Steve Hewitt’s new album a spin so satisfying.

Let’s be honest, we all expected it to be a bit dodgy, right? Well prepare to be soundly flabbergasted as Mr Hewitt goes all Dave Grohl on us, emerging from his drum riser as a rock god frontman with his new band Love Amongst Ruin.

Their self-titled debut kicks off on a riff heavy high note with first single ‘So Sad (Fade)’ and tracks ‘Blood & Earth’ and ‘Alone’ keep the momentum going nicely. But this isn’t a one dimensional beast by any means – from the emotional ‘Love Song’ to the Cure-esque ‘Away From Me’, a visceral variety courses throughout the entire record. ‘Running’ provides a rock shot of the heavier kind, while album high-point ‘Heaven & Hell’ is a cinematic delight that any band would be proud to call their own.

You might think that Hewitt is not an obvious front man but his credentials are sound, having been co-songwriter for Placebo for over a decade. It turns out that his vocals are equally impressive, his voice coming over as equal parts Trent Reznor and Josh Homme.

As with most debuts the album does lose its way on occasions, with ‘Truth’ sounding out of place, but overall this is a beautifully crafted aural exploration. And with enough angsty rock gems to give even his old employers a run for their money, Hewitt’s Love Amongst Ruin are most certainly the real thing rather than a mere placebo.