AKERCOCKE – RENAISSANCE IN EXTREMIS 2LP (Peaceville Records)

Akercocke have some terrific albums but ‘Renaissance In Extremis’ isn’t one of them. Why any band wants to merge Death Metal with ‘80s pop music and progressive / regressive bumfluff is beyond me.

It sounds like they were in the same building as Soft Cell, Tears For Fears, Howard Jones, Heaven 17 and Rod, Jane and Freddy from Rainbow (the children’s TV show, not the band) all jamming at the same time in different rooms and the dubious resonances leaked through the ether and merged together into one gigantic, steaming dog shit.

The dog died dropping said abomination and the discombobulated owner put the dog into the poop bag instead of the turd. First on the scene and cognizant of my civic duty, I took the shit home and naively placed it on the platter of my turntable and gave it a spin. Yes, I can confirm that it’s definitely excrement from the expired ass of a deceased, once-loved animal.

Evilometer: 000/666