CD of The Week

For those already familiar with Sleigh Bells, their signature sound means, well, a lot of noise. A lot of noise that can sometimes feel gratuitous. Reign of Terror, the duo’s second release, packs an expected sonic punch from the start. The guitars are grungier this time and the album has more of a metal influence than the hip-hop feel of their first album Treats.

Tracks like “Road to Hell,” “You Lost Me,” and “Never Say Die” are perfect examples of the electric guitar driven side of Sleigh Bells with vibes of 80s hair band ballads (“You Lost Me”), classic rock anthems (“Road to Hell”), and undercurrents of metal riffs (“Never Say Die”). Their signature high school rally beats and cheerleader chants are still present on tracks like “Crush,” “Demons,” and “True Shred Guitar” but with more grit this time around (and in the case of “Demons,” more bad-ass revenge).

Alexis Krauss’ airy vocals have a chance to shine on “End of the Line,” breathy and heartbreaking with lyrics that seem to speak to the deepest private human fears of being forgotten and overlooked: “Can you hear me? / Can you see me? ...No one hears you / No one sees you...” Krauss lends ethereal retrospection to “You Lost Me” and “D.O.A.,” the album’s closer, is positively transportive.

In the end, the sophomore release from Sleigh Bells is anything but a slump. They still pack their signature whollop with more realization and maturity.