London After Midnight is a rock music project that was formed in the 1990’s by singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist Sean Brennan. As well as being his studio project the band also perform live usually featuring Brennan (vocals, guitars, programming), Edward Hawkins (guitar), Joe S (drums) and Tamlyn (live keyboards). They have developed a worldwide following and are hot property in Latin America (where the band has toured extensively).

Their music is described as politically dark rock music that is deeply touching, powerful, socially aware and danceable. Well after a few full listens to “Violent Acts Of Beauty” I reckon I would agree with those descriptions to a certain degree. I’m partial to a bit of Rammstein and was brought up in an era when Gary Numan was writing the book when it came to creating dark and disturbing electronic music. I also lived through the Goth period that saw some marvelous bands breaking new ground and mixing punk attitude with mainstream rock and it has to be said that London After Midnight incorporate all those trademarks but bring them bang up to date.

There are some splendid moments on this album like the driving beat behind “Feeling Fascist? “and it’s great chorus or the moment when sparse arrangement gives way to full on rock bombast on the opening track “The Beginning Of The End”. The third track “Nothings Sacred” storms along and pulls the listener along with it, one can just see the dance floors in the European clubs jumping along to this song.

I have to say that after the first three tracks the blueprint for the rest of the album has been laid bare and things become a little bit too predictable. There are a few tracks that positively let the album down due to their unusual ability of musically going nowhere. One such track, “Heaven Now”, goes up a blind alley during its five-minute length and likewise “The Pain Looks Good On You” which does try to rescue itself towards the end when heavier instrumentation is used.

There is without doubt a big market for this music and as a genre it is still flourishing especially on the continent. On the whole though Violent Acts Of Beauty feels a little bit ordinary to this reviewer. Without doubt there is an audience and fan base out there for this music but, as a parting thought, there are bands out there that have already released music like this and done it better.

Let us know your views on Violent Acts Of Beauty

 Track Listing

Beginning of the End
Feeling Fascist?
Nothing's Sacred
Heaven Now
America's a Fucking Disease
Complex Messiah
Republic
Fear
Pure
Kids Are All Wrong
Love You to Death
Pain Looks Good on You
Nothing's Sacred [Club Mix]
America's a Fucking Disease [Edit]

Line Up

Sean Brennan - Vocals/Guitars
Joe S - Drums
Edward Hawkins - Guitars
Tamlyn - Keyboards