Therapy? - Pleasure Death

Reviews for Therapy?'s 1992 mini-album Pleasure Death generally praise its "evil, sleazy, downbeat rock" sound, with particular highlights including the "thumping metal" of "Potato Junkie" and the raw energy of tracks like "Prison Breaker". While some note the album's low mastering volume can hinder enjoyment, it's considered a worthwhile and memorable listen for fans of the band's heavier, early sound, showcasing their progression from the previous mini-album, Babyteeth, and setting the stage for their later full-length releases.

The angry tone and assault of "Pleasure Death" is not that accessible on first few listens, but it does tend to grow and mature as with most good, at least good enough music. It still retains that vicious streak in the music and Therapy? were making big waves around this time hence their deal with A&M Records soon after this release and their attempt to take over the world, but along the way they seemed to lose the way and forgot what it was all suppose to be about, esspecially when it came to doing the largely forgettable "Infernal Love" album, which now seems a very misguided adventure especially after the imprtance of the excellent "Troublegum" effort and the momentum built to that point. "Pleasure Death" is more or less a progression on their aptly titled debut "Baby Teeth" with a slightly better production allowed them by the restraints of the tiny independent label Wiiija Records. Cairns writing by this point is getting better too and some of the riffing is sublime in its execution especially on "Fantasy Bag". Again as with their first release, this one is also packed with samples from bizarre B type movies that mainly deal with aggressive subject matter which give the songs and added incentive and edge with their metal/Punk amalgam. "Potatoe Junkie" is one of the best titles for a song I have ever heard and typical of Cairns sense of humour which was always part of the Therapy? make up and lets face it, humour is always good Therapy(?).

Therapy? - Babyteeth

Reviews for the band Therapy?'s 1991 mini-album Babyteeth generally praise its raw, aggressive, and original sound, featuring a mix of punk energy and industrial elements with memorable tracks like "Punishment Kiss," "Innocent X," and "Dancin' With Manson". While some reviews note the production can be "raw" and that the album has a "short, not a moment is wasted" feel, it's seen as a powerful and uncompromising start to the band's career, establishing their unique sonic identity.

Therapy? burst upon the underground scene with all the grace of the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". The bands that Northern Ireland produced tended to be angst ridden and explosive yet dull but Therapy? emerged as a band that could be serious contenders for cult like mainstream popularity without lessening their sonic attack yet it could only be aided by a fresh and full production that only a bigger label might bring. Guitarist and singer Andy Cairns could not only write bone crushing riffs and write haunting aggressive lyrics but he juxtaposed those elements with his on stage humour and delightful approach to showmanship as he mimicked everybody from Elvis to Johnny Rotten.
"Babyteeth" is an aptly titled introduction to the band as they indeed cut through with a vicious assault of hardcore and industrial noise making mayhem. "Meat Abstract" has always remained a live favorite with it's catchy riff and sing-a-long chorus of "...Hey Freedom...". Even at this early stage Therapy? were being experimental given their limitations with tracks like "Innocent X" and the bizarre "Dancin' With Manson". But one of the most interesting if not great pieces on this release is "Loser Cop" which includes samples from the classic road movie "Easy Rider" as well as a saxophone strain and some very erratic riffing and noises. I'm not sure if this works but it comes across like a musical hangover. Therapy? tame it down a tad for the very seventies influence of "Skyward" which has all the trademarks of a single given some extra work and a decent production. Mudd, who produced the album has done nothing if not made "Babyteeth" muddy and very dense but the sound is anything but accessible. While the songs show great potential the production work is very unforgiving on this over distorted recording and every instrument seems to be set at stun! Good and chaotic debut from Therapy?

Therapy – Troublegum

A high watermark of early alternative metal, Troublegum is a spectacular, powerful, clutter-free record. Densely packed at 14 songs in 40 minutes, there's sharpness on every level, demonstrating that the promise evidenced on Nurse was no mirage. Chris Sheldon's job on the boards provides separation among all the instruments, avoiding the mashed effect from Therapy?'s previous outings. Fyfe Ewing and Michael McKeegan basically do what they've been doing all along as a rhythm section, but the increased clarity really allows for one to fully appreciate their abilities. Andy Cairns' vocal range and ear for melody increase tenfold, and his guitar takes on countless tones and textures only hinted at before. Detractors might claim that the riffs are too predictable and too "metal," which is somewhat understandable but ultimately unfair. One could call them simple, and one could call them focused; it's more the latter. Since the songwriting is more direct and less concerned with merely knocking things out and stopping after three minutes or so, everything is fully formed and completely realized. It's the absolute opposite of aimless, which is something Therapy? was sometimes guilty of. There's much more variety, too. With each play, it becomes increasingly obvious that no two songs sound much like each other, yet each song hangs together to form a singular piece. Metal-phobes can't help but give in to the irresistible pop-punk hooks of "Screamager" and "Nowhere." An obvious influence is acknowledged in a storming version of Joy Division's "Isolation," which pays tribute and transforms at the same time. "Unrequited" can't be missed, featuring a rattling guitar riff that gets yanked away by a violent cello tug from Martin McCarrick.

Therapy? – Nurse

An expanded recording budget does wonders for Therapy? for their first proper studio record, released by new label A&M. But rather than record with a label-approved producer, the Irish band opted to go with their soundman to provide a grunge tinge to their punishing noise. So the band's fans rested easily knowing that Nurse was more than their band being courted off by the fairy princess, only to return a mutated band for the worse. Nurse expands on the basic gist of Babyteeth and Pleasure Death, benefiting from further focus on Michael McKeegan's bass and Fyfe Ewing's drumming. It still sounds dark and insular, but it casts off the lo-fi sludge factor that hampered the preceding EPs. Andy Cairns' lyrics don't develop a great deal, remaining straightforward and sometimes awkward. Aside from the line "Forget Columbus/Lost your culture," "Disgraceland" fails in societal commentary with its topical namedropping. But overall, the underlying theme of the record is "You're messed up, but I'm in worse shape." Everything tends to steam by, most notably on the "Ace of Spades"-like drive of "Accelerator." But where Nurse really hits its stride is when the trio doesn't play on top of each other, like on the screeching insomniac dub of "Deep Sleep," one of Therapy?'s best overall moments. Since Nurse is somewhere between the amateurish early compilation and the polished sounding, more melodic Troublegum, some Therapy? fans would argue that this is their best overall record.

Therapy? – Teethgrinder EP

The final Therapy? EP offering for today is their debut single on A&M and lead single from Nurse. Combining the assault and battery of their two previous mini albums would, you’d have thought, have been the natural progression for Therapy? but no. In all of its dark glory the band have held back until just a little of their aggression seeps out to be almost immediately swallowed again. Teethgrinder is, as major label debuts go, one of the classics from the 90’s unleashed during the time of Grunge into a boiling pit of something you brought in, on the sole of your shoe.

Therapy - Face The Strange EP

The second of three Therapy? EP’s for Saturday greets us with Face The Strange EP. Also from 1993 and you dear listener, are taken further into chaos in the punk / 90’s metal furrow that Therapy? had ploughed. There are no prisoner’s taken on the EP, each of the tracks delivers the trademarked Andy Cairns vocal delivery and the Fyfe Ewing drum style. A nice remix of Neck Freak from the debut album Nurse is a clinical finisher and leads us backwards into the future.

 

Therapy? - ShortSharpShock EP

The first of my few Therapy? posts had to start somewhere in their early career but also as they were becoming more well known. ShortSharpShock was the opening gambit for the 1994 Therapy? album Troublegum. Screamager finds the boy’s from Northern Ireland in the UK charts and on prime time TV. ShortSharpShock was the break through single released in 1993 during which it’s become a busy time for Therapy? A European festival tour beckons with two separate jaunts to America supporting Kings X and later in the year Helmet and The Jesus Lizard followed by their first gigs in Japan. The opening track on the single, Screamager, finds the boys with nothing to do but hang around and get screwed up on you. The signature angry guitar is in full effect with the inventive drum patterns showing that even with A&M the band weren’t for toning down their song writing. Andy Cairns darkly original approach to lyrics and unconventional song structures make this EP a must listen.