Album Review

Ulterior – The Bleach Roon

• 27th Jan 2013

Londoners Ulterior describe their music as “icecold-speedhate-staticvenom-technopop”, and the unusual term actually gives a pretty accurate representation of what they do. A mix of electronic, gothic and rock influences is used to create a fast paced and doom laden sonic landscape. Synth sounds, modern rather than retro, seem to battle with distorted guitars for supremacy, backed by electronic drum beats and some great bass work. There’s a drive and a drama to every track and the result is an uncompromising and powerful album.

The Bleach Room is Ulterior’s second release, financed by fans through a Pledge Music fundraising campaign, and following on from their well received 2011 debut, Wild In Wildlife. Brothers Paul and Benn McGregor are the heart of the band, together with Mickey J Ellis (bass) and Paul Simmons (guitars). This album was produced by Robert Harder, who has worked with Brian Eno, Kylie Minogue and Neneh Cherry, amongst many others.

The album opens with Fun Gun, which feels like something of an overture to what is to come. The vocals are snarled over a big bass sound with heavy synths. Zero Over Two is next, the sonic assault building slowly behind deep vocals before the drums lead the explosion that was always going to come. Psychic Chic is fast although a little one paced initially – until a massive guitar riff bursts through unexpectedly.

In places there is an almost hardcore or metal sound, such as Skydancing with its great bass line and wailing guitar over a synth melody. Cool TV immediately changes tack, much more electronic with distorted vocals, although this one drags a little in the middle.

Hello Andromeda has another slightly different emphasis, this time leaning more towards mainstream rock. It builds from a thudding bass with a massive sound, before the softer second part of the track is almost ambient, giving a rather strange ending. And then the epic sounding Body Hammer heads back towards a metal sound as the guitar lets rip over pounding drums in fine style. Every time you feel like you have an idea where this album is going it has the capacity to surprise you.

Motorin’ has a driving drum beat that propels it forward as the guitar howls and the synths for once take a back seat. The vocals are faster here, it’s almost speed metal. In Vitro has some fine guitar work, but doesn’t reach the dramatic heights of other racks.

The final track, The Locus of Control is its first single. Starting slowly, the synth melody that runs through the track is joined by a typically distorted guitar and insistent vocals. There’s an anger to the lyrics and a raw energy that threatens to overwhelm the listener before a final burst of guitar brings it to an end. It’s a great album closer.

What comes through most in The Bleach Room is the sheer intensity and individuality of the music, as if the band has worked hard to create a sound that is exactly as they wanted it to be. Ulterior clearly have no intention of fitting into any one particular musical genre, and that has to be applauded. This is an album with tremendous vitality and power, and it will appeal to fans of both rock and electronic music.

Venue: The Bleach Roon
Support Band: Speed Records