Ultimate Thunder – ‘A Spider Will Come To Eat Your Flesh’ album review: eclectic and uncompromising post-punk mastery
THE SKINNY: The world has a lot to thank Leeds for. Over the years, the city has gifted society with everything from the first commercial steam locomotive to the nectar that is Tetley’s Mild. In more recent years, however, it has been noted for its rich and vibrant music scene, storied by a variety of celebrated post-punk outfits. Of all the bands that populate the gig room at Brudenell Social Club, there are few quite as compelling as Ultimate Thunder.
After operating on a local level since 2013, the band released a self-titled debut album in 2022. The Leeds-based collective wasted no time in establishing their unique sound, which draws upon influences of post-punk, noise rock and experimental music. For the most part, their latest record, endearingly entitled A Spider Will Come To Eat Your Flesh, continues that musical manifesto. On the new record, the Matthew Watson-fronted outfit embraces funky basslines, no-wave style weirdness and uncompromising stream-of-consciousness vocal delivery.
There is a growing trend within post-punk in which anybody who sings in a remotely northern accent gets compared to Mark E. Smith and The Fall. While the discordant vocals of Watson might evoke the sneering aggression of Smith, Ultimate Thunder are far from being a tribute band. On tracks like ‘We Paid For Your Money’, the group feature retro-style synths, providing an answer to the unasked question ‘What if Iron Butterfly were from West Yorkshire?’. The band’s broad range of influences culminates in a sound that feels both familiar and innovative, accessible yet agitated. This uneasy atmosphere rarely gives you a moment to let your guard down, though it commands your attention throughout the entire tracklisting.
The very existence of Ultimate Thunder is a ringing endorsement of the state of local music scenes and artistic expression. With the majority of band members having learning disabilities, their first record was financed by the charities Pyramid and People In Action, the latter of whom were unable to support this new album due to a lack of funding. Although Pyramid supported the new album, it was helped along by a subsequent crowdfunding campaign, set up by producer James Mabbett, which has clearly shown the importance and power of local music scenes, as well as the close-knit community of DIY musicians nationwide. A Spider Will Come To Eat Your Flesh was certainly worth the collective effort required to get it off the ground.
For fans of: Drinking Tetley’s at Brudenell Social Club and talking endlessly about ‘God’s own country’, interspersed with various anecdotes about how you once saw Gang of Four.
A concluding comment from Alan Bennett: Ultimate Thunder makes post-punk music an almost moral pursuit, delivering their material in a way that makes the usual Leeds bands seem crude and obvious. Erving Goffman would have liked Ultimate Thunder.
A Spider Will Come To Eat Your Flesh track-by-track:
Release date: May 10th | Producer: James Mabbett | Label: Easy Listening Records
‘We Paid for Your Money’: Starting as they mean to go on, the opening track immediately establishes the noise rock sound of Ultimate Thunder, as well as the chaotic stream-of-consciousness vocals from Matthew Watson. [3.5/5]
‘A Spider Will Come To Eat Your Flesh’: The photon-laser synths are undoubtedly the highlight of this track, helping to create an unexpectedly danceable piece. Its energy is infectious, and its effects only seem to increase with every listen. [4/5]
‘Change Yer Burger’: Perhaps the most accessible track on this release, this song places more emphasis on Watson’s vocals and lyrics. While lacking in energy at points, it is awash with the noise rock influences that make Ultimate Thunder so endearing. [3/5]
‘100 Dollar$’: A masterful false beginning gives way to a deceptively funky five-minute epic. The rising intensity of the song gives it a sense of urgency that is utterly compelling. [4/5]
‘I’ve Got No Bees In Your House’: Kenneth Stainburn’s hardcore-inspired bassline provides a fantastic introduction to this song. Arguably the high point of the record, its infectious funk rhythm demands your attention. [4.5/5]
‘Moon OK’: Finishing off your album with a 15-minute instrumental odyssey is a bold move, but one which Ultimate Thunder seem to take in their stride. Although it sounds pretty great on the record, it is clearly a track that is meant to be heard in a live setting. [3.5/5]
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