Slaves - Take Control review: 'It’s a rage against the machine'

Slaves’ first release, 2015’s Are You Satisfied?, was Mercury nominated but its basic format — essentially Isaac Holman shouting and drumming over Laurie Vincent’s buzz saw guitars — had its obvious limitations.

This time around the Tunbridge Wells duo enticed former Beastie Boy Mike D to produce them and the results are similar but superior.

The crunching guitars, the White Stripes influence and Holman’s grizzled vocals remain unfettered but Mike D has added a more subtle groove and Baxter Dury’s guest vocal on the sublime but vicious Steer Clear bring new-found under-statement.

Mostly though, it’s a rage against the machine, a cathartic howl, but the addictive Cold Hard Floor and Take Control itself are but a discreet makeover from hit material.

Things are going to get more interesting now.

(Virgin)