Sleigh Bells

                                                    Reign of Terror 

                                                          8.2/10

                                                       iPod Worthy 

It feels like it was just yesterday that the noise pop Brooklyn based duo, Sleigh Bells, dropped their highly anticipated debut album Treats. They were one of the most talked about bands in late 2009 and 2010 and their string of strong singles only helped them circulate the blogosphere. And too boot, the album held up to the hype and was pretty damn good. But the dust has settled and Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller have popped up with their sophomore LP, Reign of Terror: an album that doesn’t push boundaries or show the band moving and any new direction but still is completely as satisfying as Treats. 

Sleigh Bells are probably one of the most gimmicky bands on the radar today. From their aesthetic to their look to their videos to their sound, it all sorta feels like an Urban Outfitters ad came to life and started a band. But whatever, so what. If you can get past that hurdle you’ll most likely find yourself really enjoying most of the tracks on Terror. “End of the Line” is one of the best tracks here and although the duo didn’t really push themselves into anything out of their comfort zone, “End of the Line” does provide us with some glimmering hope that Sleigh Bells can evolve further from their current state. Millers’ beautiful guitar riffs zig-zag around Krauss’ sexy chants, “Do you want it enough? Do you want it enough?” “Don’t leave me now/ You know it didn’t have to be this way/ Yeah it’s the end of the line so goodbye.” The jam is much slower than what we’re used to hearing from the group but it’s still full of hard guitars and smashing drums and juxtaposed by Krauss’ innocent but demanding voice.

The single “Comeback Kid” is another great moment on the LP. It’s something you’d expect from the band but they do what they do really well so no one can really complain. “Road to Hell” is a standout with its slowish gritty guitars raining while Krauss’ sings “Don’t run away from me baby/ Just go away from me baby/ Road to hell/ Road to hell.” The following track “You Lost Me” is a hypnotic tune that has bursts of energy; it may be a little tame for Sleigh Bells but the use of editing and restraint really shine through.

Tracks like “Born to Lose,” “Demons,” and “Never Say Die” are all pretty much standard Sleigh Bells tracks. There isn’t anything terrible on Terror but it’s music the band has given us before. At its worst, Terror comes off as a re-gifted album, and that many of these songs could have easily left off of Treats but now are collected into one full album. But no: nothing really matches the greatness of “Rill Rill, “Infinity Guitars,” “Kids” and “Riot Rhythm.” The band has ditched the stomping and cheerleading aspect of their music and has focused on the rock ‘n roll side of their music. I don’t think I heard one synth on this album and it’s both a good and bad thing. I’d love to see Sleigh Bells do a dance/club track but alas. Nevertheless, at its worst the 11 tracks can feel like songs that were left on the cutting room floor during the Treats sessions. But at it’s best, Reign of Terror provides us with gripping music that will continue to get play through out the year.

Watch the video for the killer single “Comeback Kid” below: