Retribution Gospel Choir — 2

It finally appears safe to say Retribution Gospel Choir are more than just a diversion for Low's Alan Sparhawk.

After all those years of making gentle, dead quiet songs (save The Great Destroyer), it's not really a surprise that Sparhawk (and he's brought latest Low bassist Steve Garrington along, too) would be looking for an outlet for his more aggressive tendencies. He did it once before in the early 2000s with his bluegrass-tinged punk outfit, Black Eyed Snakes, but this just feels a little more tangible.

Sparhawk and company waste no time in letting loose on 2. It's a very similar album to their self-titled debut, but the songs here are a little more confident, punishing and thoughtfully constructed.

Album openers "Hide It Away" and "Your Bird" are among the best tracks RCG have recorded. In an interesting diversion, they later engage in some almost-roots rock on "Workin' Hard."

On the whole, today's Retribution Gospel Choir are what Low would sound like if crossed with The Twilight Sad or DD/MM/YYYY.

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