Therapy?: Cleave review – A battle cry against division and conflict

Therapy? memorably sung about James Joyce on a fan's favourite and early classic, Potato Junkie, back in the 90s. Now, they turn to Samuel Beckett for inspiration on their 15th album.

Wreck It Like Beckett kickstarts their first release on the iconic amp affiliated Marhshall Records with a monstrous riff. It's a raucous tribute to Beckett's penchant for loving the promise of an empty page when embarking on any new project. Always too metal for the indie crowd, and far too bloody-minded to tow the line or pander to anyone, Cleave overflows with the remarkably fresh sound of Therapy? in 2018, complete with blitzrieg drums, buzzing riffs, and the unmistakeable voice of Andy Cairns.

Cleave is reminiscent of their Troublegum era, taking cues from 90s contemporaries such as Helmet and featuring songs and lyrics that are as memorable as anything from their heyday. "It's okay not to be okay, it's okay not to be okay, when you're living through this," Cairns bellows on Kakistocracy, analysing the modern's world's lack of empathy and humanity.

The singer has called Cleave a response to conflict and division, and an allusion to how when people discover Therapy?, they tend to keep the band very close to their hearts. After all these years, Therapy? are a class act who won't go gently into the good night.