Reign Of Terror

I didn't expect much from the latest Sleigh Bells LP. Wait, that sounds harsh; what I mean to say is that I thought I'd know what to expect. Their 2010 debut Treats was packed with rockin' summer anthems, cheerleader noise-rock that perfectly hit both aural pleasure centers labeled 'pop' and 'punk'. It was like a pitch-perfect blend of every childhood memory a kid growing up in the '90s could have. Promises of a heavier vibe made me think that perhaps the distortion might be cranked up a bit over some otherwise power-positive jams. Which made Reign Of Terror's melancholic obsession such a surprise.

Make no mistake, the anthems are still there. Derek Miller is still churning out noisy guitar fist-pumpers for Alexis Krauss to croon and chant over, but it takes something of a darker turn, with lyrics that echo with teen trauma. Indeed, Reign Of Terror feels very much a coming-of-age soundtrack. Tracks like 'Crush' detail that age-old unrequited heartbreak, and the woozy 'End Of The Line' takes it a step further with fragile guitars, a skittering mechanical drumbeat, and Krauss murmuring 'No one loves you, no one sees you' like a leather-clad Rose Melberg. The two must have been listening to a fairly heavy amount of shoegaze, in fact; it's hard not to hear echoes of Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine, or Joy Division in tracks like the achingly angsty 'You Lost Me', the trad-goth disco of 'Never Say Die', and prom night climax track 'Road To Hell' where Lydia Deetz finally realizes Duckie is the right guy for her, and they kiss as the gym burns down.

'Remember who you are', Krauss beseeches us as the mournful 'DOA' (with keyboards that sound imported from Factory Records circa '79) spirals to a close. Reign Of Terror just makes me remember being a teen goth, but I'm pretty okay with that. In this one, there's still a happy ending.