Band of Skulls

Sweet Sour (Pias Recordings)

This isn’t so much a review as a PSA. Don’t get superhigh before listening to this LP. Oh, right, don’t get high at all, kids. Drugs are bad. But you especially don’t want to do it to this UK trio’s second album. It might seem like a good idea when the death-metal, minor-key dirge of the title track starts stalking your cortex. It’s going to be even harder to resist ripping a hit when the fantastically massive riffage at the chorus of “Bruises” rattles your vertebrae. That’s all good, exceptional even. The problem comes in the back half of Sweet Sour. You’re thinking, “If it’s even possible, I need to be rocked harder,” but it ain’t happening. Sweet Sour downshifts something ridiculous, slow and a little disappointing for a little too long (especially for fans of 2009 debut Baby Darling Doll Face Honey), because holy crap, did it melt faces ever so well for a little while. (Wed., 11pm, Haven)

**.5

This article appears in March 16 • 2012.

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