Bad Rabbits – Garden Of Eden | Album Review

Punk and R&B are strange bedfellows, but Bad Rabbits prove that magic can happen when the two genres share the same sheet.

The fifth record from the R&Beatdown trio and their first since the turn of the decade, Garden Of Eden is once again wonderful proof of Bad Rabbits’ unique concept. A suave and swaggering collection of contemporary R&B fulled by the volatile energy only found within punk, hardcore and other genres often perceived to be removed from rhythm and blues by lightyears, this record is a wonderful body of work that once again proves that the only naysayers of Bad Rabbit’s work are those who simply have not heard it.

Titular opening track – heralded by Enter Shikari’s own Rou Reynolds – immediately establishes the plethora of reasons that makes this album and band as a collective so brilliant. Effortlessly radiating that sense of empowering 90’s optimism and vibrancy, ‘Garden Of Eden’ is joyous and infectiously in the fashion in which it fluidly harmonises classic R&B silkiness with the force and power of heavier music as a whole. Leading single and consecutive follow up ‘Goin Up’ continues this underpinning sense of empowerment with the swagger that characterised the band’s previous LP Mimi and the aptly titled ‘Beatdown’ mares messages of positivity with a vocal delivery that harkens thoughts of manic mic grabbing pile-ons only previously seen at hardcore shows.

Yet, despite this force, something achieved with the engaging and impassioned vocal work of Fredua Boakye, there’s no animosity within this record – only pure and unfettered joy. Those going into this record blind or without knowledge of the band’s output thus far should not expect pulverising beatdowns, lacerating riffs or any of the holistic motifs associated with hardcore. Instead, the comparisons to hardcore and it’s related stylistics within this record stem from the energy of this release. Much like bands like Youth Of Today and Gorilla Biscuits utilised the energy and haste of aggressive music to spread inclusivity, Bad Rabbits take that energy and use it to fuel a more approachable and pacifying sound.

But truthfully, what makes this record so irresistible is just how jubilant this is. Bad Rabbits have long been an entity that have preached the power of patience, determination and positive thinking, but this record makes these qualities not just tangible, but infectious. It’s nigh on impossible to be lured into a golden mood when hearing the stomping swagger of ‘The Getaway’ or groove along with a gilded grin when hearing the noodling guitar lines courtesy of Polyphia’s Tim Henson within the sensual ‘Freedom’. ‘In Love and Plane Crashes’, arguably one the best songs within the record, even manages to turn themes of rampant anxiety into something effortlessly upbeat. Such is a testament to the impassion of Bad Rabbits. This is a body of work that acknowledges the turbulent underdog story of the band as a whole, and rather focus on the negatives that ultimately led to thus album’s creation, the band turn such tales into songs of elation and inspiration. In an age of continuously escalating fear and anxiety, this wonderful sense of positivity is not only refreshing, but crucially required.

Granted, there are some songs within this record that don’t quite reach the heights achieved by others within the tracklising. The sultry and desiring ‘Let Me Rock’ doesn’t quite reach chirpse one successfully and the obscenely horny ‘Good Love’ sadly does not quite reach climax. But these aren’t bad songs, they’re just ones that don’t resonate the feel-good force found within the record as whole. Thankfully though, the sense of enthusiasm doesn’t wane during these moments, and as a whole, Garden Of Eden remains a wholly brilliant listen. The world may be in sorry state right now, but as Bad Rabbits present here, paradise awaits within the power of music.