Albums: Terrorvision: We Are Not Robots

Terrorvision We Are Not Robots

Electrocuted; The Night That Lemmy Died; Opposites; Baby Blue; You Gotta Want To Be Happy; Magic; Promises; Lucifer; Don’t Spoil Tomorrow; Bleeker Street; Daydream; Shine On
(Townsend Music)

When Bradford rock group Terrorvision celebrated their tricenary last year, many thought that the band might be resting on their laurels with any prospect of new music being a distant one.

Instead, the energetic act has returned with their new album—thirteen years since the last one. The new set continues Terrorvision's tradition of stomping rock, which always wears a smile on its face.

Opening with the punk rock of Electrocuted the track sounds more like 1977 than 2024, setting off the album in fine style. The following number is a tribute to Motörhead leader Lemmy, in the form of The Night Lemmy Died. The track is also an accolade to the working musicians who cut their craft touring up and down the country in small venues.

The singles Baby Blue and You Gotta Work To Be Happy follow—the former beginning with a guitar riff that appears to be influenced by the David Essex hit, Hold Me Close, while the latter comes with a saxophone break that brings to mind Roy Wood and Wizzard showcasing that Terrorvision may also be more swayed by mid-seventies pop music than they care to mention.

As the album progresses, the songs become less immediate, though the slow plodder that is Daydream comes with a slice of pop that recalls Chumbawumba. With Shine On closing the album, it feels like Terrorvision can still pack a punch and throw a party that you never want to end.