Review of High Anxiety (2003)

by Robert Adams for Rock Sound (2003)

It’s not been an easy ride for Therapy? Record label hassles, line-up changes, and the fickle music business have all done their best to make sure that Andy Cairns and company won’t succeed. Well, Mr Cairns can raise his middle finger to The Man, ’cos Therapy? are back—and they’re pissed off.

It’s no understatement that High Anxiety is the band’s most important release to date. If this album fails, then so do Therapy? It’s as black and white as that. I’m pleased to report that as the first chords of Hey Satan—You Rock come tumbling out of your speakers, a strange grin will slowly start to spread across your face.

This fucking rocks, and Therapy? know it.

Producer Pete Bartlet and the return of Chris Sheldon have made sure High Anxiety is sharper than a Gillette turbo razor.

You can sense the self-belief all the way through the album. Watch You Go is a slice of vintage Therapy?—harking back to the glory days of Teethgrinder—and is simply stunning. Producer Pete Bartlet and the return of Chris Sheldon have made sure High Anxiety is sharper than a Gillette turbo razor.

New label Spitfire must have been creaming their pants when they heard this. The music scene has sorely missed Therapy? Definitely a contender for album of the year. Certainly comeback of the year.

Rating: 9/10.

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