By Jim Rowland
Buoyed by the success of their 2024 ‘Forces Of Evil’ EP, which was the band’s first release of new material in over 30 years, enduring alt-rockers Balaam And The Angel have followed up with the release another new four-track EP.
Production of this new record saw the band return to Oxygene studios in Manchester to record with Christoph Bride, who has recently worked on albums by The Chameleons and Kirk Brandon.
The sound of the new record is a deliberate attempt to blend the ambiance of the band’s darker past with the punchier edge of their later albums, and clearly given a huge shot of confidence by the positive response to the previous EP, this one should gain a similar response from fans old and new too.
‘Wealth’ kicks the EP off in style, embracing the band’s darker, gothic past with swirling guitars and tribal beats reminiscent of classic Siouxsie & the Banshees. Alternating between dark atmospherics and heavy guitar bursts, ‘Fear of Poison Water’ again follows the darker, gothic route and packs a powerful punch.
‘You Are Dead To Me’ sits back a little more and has more of a straight rock edge, whilst ‘Love Me Too’ rocks with a kind of sophisticated glam tinge, perhaps with a hint of the influence of earlier Roxy Music to it.
Released on all digital platforms, along with a limited vinyl release on the band’s own Darklands Recordings label, ‘Love Death Wealth Water’ is, if anything, stronger than the 2024 “comeback” EP and sets Balaam And The Angel up nicely for their forthcoming celebrations marking 40 years since the release of the classic ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’ album, including an autumn tour.
- ‘Love Death Wealth Water‘ will be released on Friday (1 May).
Balaam And The Angel will play an album release show at The Fiery Bird in Woking on Saturday 9 May, followed by an appearance at the sold-out Kindred Spirits Festival in Brighton on Sunday 10 May.