Take Control
by Slaves
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
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  1. Greggs1993
    Sep 30, 2016
    9
    Visceral and caustic.

    The charismatics from Royal Tunbridge Wells stay true to their sound with abrasive punk yet pleasantly surprise with their eclectic taste - quite alike to their veteran producer Mike D (Beastie Boys) who has boldly aided them in delivering a significant improvement on 'Are You Satisfied?'. The album touches on humane topics. The overall message still yells "If    Visceral and caustic.

    The charismatics from Royal Tunbridge Wells stay true to their sound with abrasive punk yet pleasantly surprise with their eclectic taste - quite alike to their veteran producer Mike D (Beastie Boys) who has boldly aided them in delivering a significant improvement on 'Are You Satisfied?'.

    The album touches on humane topics. The overall message still yells "If you're not content with something, seize the opportunity and DO SOMETHING about it" - a continuous theme from their debut, which this time is instilled in a more progressively intense fashion.

    Supreme songs are 'Take Control', 'Hypnotized' and 'Rich Man'.

    'Rich Man' is a GREAT track.

    The duo's balance of material quality (Studio VS. Live) also seems to be collating to a very pleasing standard - as witnessed at their astonishingly impressive gig in Hebden Bridge earlier this month. I'm proud to say I still have my hands on a shirt thrown into the brazen crowd by drummer Isaac Holman.    … Expand
  2. johiggs
    Sep 30, 2016
    8
    Brilliant, energetic and at points, more intelligent than one would have expected. Packed full of straight out punk tunes such as 'Take Control', 'Rich Man' and 'Spit it Out'. Royal Tunbridge Wells punk duo, Isaac Holman (drums/vocals) and Laurie Vincent (guitars/vocals), also known as Slaves, are on their A game with a heavier, more developed sound than found on their debut full length LPBrilliant, energetic and at points, more intelligent than one would have expected. Packed full of straight out punk tunes such as 'Take Control', 'Rich Man' and 'Spit it Out'. Royal Tunbridge Wells punk duo, Isaac Holman (drums/vocals) and Laurie Vincent (guitars/vocals), also known as Slaves, are on their A game with a heavier, more developed sound than found on their debut full length LP 'Are You Satisfied?' courtesy of Mike D's production. 'Consume Or Be Consumed', my personal favourite track on the album, even has a short and sweet verse from the ex-Beastie Boy himself. Plenty of the classic Slaves humour can be found on 'F*** the Hi-Hat' combatting hecklers who have mocked their lack of high-hat, or 'People That You Meet' featuring Joel Amey of Wolf Alice on the kit, which includes a verse about their producer, informing the listener that Mike D 'used to be a Beastie Boy but now he works for me'. Perhaps the most surprising moment on the album is 'Steer Clear', a song that sounds nothing like anything Slaves have ever released before. A raw and emotional track lead by programmed drumbeats, minimal synth lines and an addictive baseline with a clever use of harmonics. Baxter Dury's featured vocals in the chorus of this track only build on what is already a truly genius piece of music. He sings 'please don't kill yourself behind that steering wheel 'cause I don't really know who I am but you keep it real' with true, untamed emotion. Nearer the end of the album is does start to drag slightly. Not to say the tracks are bad, however, 'Cold Hard Floor' overstays it's welcome, it simply goes on for too long without reaching a dynamic climax. 'STDs and PHDs' is a more electronic track with a good riff but nothing much else of note unfortunately. Much the same can be said for 'Angelica'. The final number of the album 'Same Again' sees a return to form with a heavy and visceral punk tune.
    A strong album that is not without flaws but has most of an album's worth of fierce punk songs, as well as a couple of pleasant surprises in the form of Isaac and Laurie trying something new.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. PopMatters
    Nov 8, 2016
    60
    On Take Control, Slaves show glimpses of astuteness but these are often mitigated by hackneyed lyrics. This should be the revolutionary punk album that music and the wider world desperately needs right now. Sadly, it falls tantalizingly short.
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  2. Kerrang!
    Oct 27, 2016
    80
    It's a step forward lyrically and also musically. [29 Oct 2016, p.53]
  3. No Ripcord
    Oct 17, 2016
    50
    We’ve heard enough from Slaves in their fledgling career thus far to know that their sound is always going to be abrasive, but with the exception of Spit It Out, the quirks that made Slaves as appetising a proposition as they were are nowhere near the forefront.
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