Album Review

Stand Out Riot – Carnival Militia

• 7th Mar 2009

Two Tone ska crashes into a searing metal-core slant to introduce the North West noise churners, Stand Out Riot through opener, ‘Depth Charge’. This eight track brass shoved cavalry spurt shows the expansion of ska through punk and beyond.

Anger and frivolity mixes like tar and feathers, giving something for the catharsis releaser and the traditional skanker alike. A horn hounding vibe bites the arse of, ‘The Monstrous Cabaret’ giving it a freewheeling anarchic touch possessing energy, gnarl and oodles of bounce.

It is a vibe that trundles into, ‘Ambush Paddington’ and the Sax element is given a more longing kick. Along with a frivolous carnival interlude that helps to turn this song into a roving, ska and traditional rock fused alternative epic anthem, tackling the topic of personal dilemmas perfectly.

In true underground spirit, spiky and thinly veiled jabs at the under and over-classes, sneaks out from behind a title that implies the song is a cheap bandwagon hogging far right, football styled chant, ‘The British Nazi Parade’.

A multi-vocal tirade emboldens the off-key rock jaunt, ‘The Oxbridge Mafia’, representing Stand Out Riot at their incongruously jarring best. It is an impact that smoothly delivered ballad-esque vocal intermissions tends to highlight all the more.

Their playful side is paraded with abandon and an undercurrent of force, ‘Counting Sheep’. It demonstrates the fun and vibrant element of the saxophone without letting it take over the track. Francis Hunt’s vocals are controlled yet demonstrative throughout and, Ben Streets’ forceful and well time percussion keeps the songs in the minimum amount of focus that is needed for an act of this ilk.

Stand Out Riot mingles a political edge with a quirky fun element and some bold, full bodied musicianship, oh and most importantly an enthusiasm for what they’re doing leaps out at you like a drunken lepricorn.