7/10

After their energetic and tenacious pair of albums, 'Blossom' and 'Modern Ruin', in 2015 and 2017 respectively, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes were on the forefront of a new wave of UK punk bands. Continuing much of the same angry aesthetic he showed in his formative group Gallows, Frank Carter led a brutal and forceful onslaught of heavy guitars and thunderous anthems that cemented the group as a force to be reckoned with. But now onto their third full-length 'End Of Suffering', it feels like the band have moved away from the brutalism of their initial work as they look to reinvent themselves in a new light.

Recorded during the heatwave that engulfed London last year, 'End Of Suffering' is named after the Buddhist term for enlightenment, and it certainly feels that the rage and visceral emotions have been stripped from this new collection, in exchange for something more forward-thinking and multifaceted. Carter seems far more assured in his place as a frontman, and as result, has taken his group along a path of sombre grunge bangers and even some soulful moments to deliver a diverse and exciting new direction that looks to reflect his own personal resolutions.

Yet despite Frank Carter's choice to no longer scream his way through a release, the band's overall sound is still filled with plenty of punch and focused grooves that make this return one of their most poignant to date. 'End Of Suffering' marks the beginning of a new era for The Rattlesnakes, and shows that the group are willing to experiment with new ideas in order to keep themselves from falling into that stale and repetitive trap.