Balaam And The Angel Celebrate its 40th Anniversary With the Release Of Brand New Material the first new material in over 30 years. The three brothers who grew up on a council estate in Cannock played music together as teenagers and finally formed Balaam And The Angel in the early 80’s inspired by the scene that was developing around Bauhaus, The Sisters Of Mercy, Southern Death Cult, Theatre Of Hate etc.

The band achieved success in the 80s signing to Virgin Records for their debut album ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’, and touring the world with the likes of The Mission, Kiss, The Cult, Aerosmith and Iggy Pop until the release of their last album ‘Prime Time’ in 1993. So the sands of time have passed but on first play the band sound energised and with a great production ‘Forces Of Evil’ sounds like time stood still and the years away have been good to the trio. The release sees almost to the day the band’s first 4 track EP World Of Light (released in Nov 1984) bookended nicely.

The four tracks on the EP have been written by the band and show a more developed approach to the lyrical content which embraces some of the bands more common themes about how we navigate our daily lives alongside some more provocative themes such as mental health and the contradiction between religious belief vs religious intolerance and the way in which this are used as one of the reasons for the persecution of others. Only coming out on Vinyl sees the band return to how it all began and opening song ‘Dancing Senseless’ there is an urgency and power to the riff that carries the song. Some might say classic Balaam sound that embraces their darker roots.

I guess my only complaint is it’s only a four-track EP and after such a lengthy gap and being greedy I’d have loved to have heard maybe ten tracks on an album but I guess that can wait.

The title track begins with some sci-fi glitches before the drums kick in with a thumping bassline signalling goths everywhere to get out the Petulia oil and start making those shapes whilst the dry ice wafts through the speakers and a really epic journey begins. Only the final track ‘After Life’ offers something more moody and darker with the synth pulse making way for the piano to chime in. To be fair its classic Balaam folks and that’s a good thing. It’s been a while but its a most welcome return and four really good songs that add to the band’s catalogue and hopefully open a new chapter that will bring in more songs and more live shows. Its good to have you back gents this will more than do for starters.

Pre-order the EP HERE on 12-inch vinyl 

Author: Dom Daley

Catch Balaam And The Angel live at the following dates in November:

Fri 8th Nov: Leamington Spa Assembly Hall

Sat 9th Nov: Reading Face Bar

Thurs 14th Nov: London Islington The Garage

Thurs 21st Nov: Glasgow Room 2

Fri 22nd Nov: Sheffield Network

Sat 23rd Nov: Hull The New Adelphi

Thurs 28th Nov: Birmingham Castle And Falcon

Fri 29th Nov: Bedford Esquires