Artist: THE MISSION
Album: GOD IS A BULLET (CD)

Year: 2007
EAN/UPS: 0711297481129
Media type: CD

The Mission were formed by Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams in early 1986 after they’d left The Sisters Of Mercy. In the time since they have enjoyed worldwide album sales in excess of 4 million. They have racked up 14 Top 40 UK hits. They have headlined at some of Europe’s most prestigeous festivals. They have toured the world countless times, breaking records and breaking hearts in the process.

During this time The Mission have also endured many line-up changes and experienced the peaks and troughs that would, and have, surely killed off many bands made of less sterner stuff. That The Mission still exist and still command a fanatically loyal worldwide audience stands as testament to their durabilty and the quality of both their recorded output and the excitement of their live shows.

It would’ve been easy for the band to revisit past glories but they’ve resisted. They are not looking backward. They are looking forward. The Mission have recorded an album that is brave and adventurous. It’s a ‘guitar’ album full of swagger, confidence, good tunes and, in Wayne Hussey, a songwriter that is at the top of his game.

‘God Is A Bullet’ features 15 new songs recorded between September and December 2006. The basic tracks were recorded at Nam studios, near Bath in England. The rest of the album was completed at Wayne Hussey’s own ‘Green Room’ studio in Brazil. Produced by Wayne the album features theline-up of Mark Gemini Thwaite on guitar, Rich Vernon on bass, and Steve Spring on drums, as well as Wayne contributing his own unique guitar style and distinctive voice.

Musically, it is sometimes brazen, it is sometimes a whisper. It is sometimes brutal, it is sometimes seduction. It is what every Mission fan is surely hoping for without being what they’re expecting. Lyrically, it is the most diverse set of lyrics ever composed by Wayne. Some of the themes visited on this album include incest, animal cruelty, cross dressing and role playing, Liverpool FC, voyeurism, love as addiction and love as celebration, psycotherapy, war on terrorism & even premature ejaculation! Granted, not your typical top 40 lyrics but subjects that are probably closer to all of our hearts than we’d care to admit.

The album also boasts the contributions of some very special guests. Simon Hinkler, original guitarist with The Mission, graces the album with some superlative guitar playing, as does Tim Bricheno, original guitarist of All About Eve. Julianne Regan, again from All About Eve, who was the female voice on notable early Mission recordings such as ‘Severina’ and ‘Beyond The Pale’, adds her angelic vocal alongside Wayne’s on a couple of tracks. The album also features the talents of cellist Caroline Dale, credits including Page & Plant, Dave Gilmour, Oasis, as well as a multitude of film soundtracks, and Caroline is also a regular member of the London Metropolitan Orchestra. As is violinist Cathy Thompson who can count the Michael Nyman band, Peter Gabriel, Page & Plant, and Robbie Williams amongst her many credits.

God Is A Bullet’ is an album that dares to challenge it’s audience. It’s an album that will surely come to be viewed as a ‘classic’ in the canon of The Mission. It’s an album that attempts to take forward steps at a time when it’s expected for the band to look backwards. Anniversaries? Bah.....They’re for the sentimental. ‘God Is A Bullet’ isn’t.

TRACKLIST:

01. Still Deep Waters 3:09
02. Keep It In The Family 3:59
03. Belladonna 3:31
04. To Love & To Kill With The Very Same Hand 4:24
05. Aquarius & Gemini 3:42
06. Blush 3:35
07. Chinese Burn 4:59
08. Father 5:55
09. Hdshrinkerea 4:28
10. Draped In Red 4:55
11. Running With Scissors 4:26
12. Silhouette 4:03
13. Dumb 4:49
14. Absolution 4:42
15. Grotesque 6:34

LINE-UP 2007:

Wayne Hussey: Vocals & Guitars
Steve Spring: Drums
Mark Gemini Thwaite: Guitars
Rich Vernon: Bass