REVIEW: We Were Promised Jetpacks – In the Pit of the Stomach

We Were Promised Jetpacks – In the Pit of the Stomach
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When Scottish post-punk/post-rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks broke into the international scene a few years ago, some wondered if this was another case of a band with a charming, fun name but not much else past that. And while the name might have drawn people to the band initially, it was their promising 2009 debut, These Four Walls, that kept people hanging around. With post-punk’s spiky rhythms and fast-paced attack taking flight on bursts of post-rock explosiveness, We Were Promised Jetpacks balanced an emotional delivery with a muscular sound.

On the follow-up, In the Pit of the Stomach, they continue to prove there’s more to the band than their name, avoiding the pit of the dreaded sophomore slump. Stylistically, the band hasn’t drifted far from where they were on These Four Walls, but, this time around, there’s a greater attention to detail and an ambitious approach to composition, as evidenced by the expansive, drawn out instrumental measures of songs like “Act On Impulse” and “Sore Thumb.” The songs here are much more textured and well-layered, feeling more calculated, as well, but no less raw and exciting. Lyrically and sonically, We Were Promised Jetpacks are like a shot of adrenaline and fearlessness, with their fervent style and moments of energizing, controlled chaos; they ensnare a flurry of emotions in one reverberating guitar chord, one furiously strummed note, or one breakneck drum beat, conveying that emotional congestion clearly and honestly.

If there’s one thing that sticks out about In the Pit of the Stomach, it’s that it’s a more dynamic effort compared to These Four Walls. Opener “Circles and Squares” whips along like a round of machine gun fire, thanks to the insanely sharp drumming of Darren Lackie; when singer/guitarist Adam Thompson sings “I’ve been walking in circles and squares,” the music’s winding yet seamless composition reflects this metaphorical path he travels. The immense “Sore Thumb” is stunning with its wall of guitars that swallow you whole, like staring up into the midnight, star-decorated sky. The beautiful “Pear Tree” is nothing short of epic, moving from a meditative tranquility to a loud, symphonic blast, erupting like a volcano that’s been dormant for years.

While the band certainly proves to be a bit more adventurous and mature on this outing, the instrumentals occasionally prove to be stronger than Thompson’s vocal melodies. From a post-rock perspective, there’s nothing wrong with that, but the message, the poeticism, winds up fading into the background otherwise. “Hard to Remember” begins with a rather colossal riff, starting off strong, but it soon loses momentum with the chorus melody feeling a bit weary. “Human Error” suffers a bit of disconnect as it transitions from verse to chorus, almost as if the spur of infectious energy that kicks it all off causes the song to get ahead of itself. Missteps such as these are few in number, but even the few can still undercut the overall impact of the songs.

In the Pit of the Stomach is an immediate, honest, uplifting, and, at times, mighty record. Although it doesn’t always pack the punch it potentially could have had, it certainly lands quite a hit regardless. Just as the album title implies, We Were Promised Jetpacks dig deep inside their emotional well to yield a collection of songs that speaks to the flawed but beautiful nature of humanity. From the quiet-to-loud dynamics to the passionate delivery, In the Pit of the Stomach is a successful sophomore release that proves even greater things are ahead for We Were Promised Jetpacks.

In the Pit of the Stomach is out now on Fat Cat Records.

We Were Promised Jetpacks - "Act On Impulse"


We Were Promised Jetpacks - "Medicine"