Terrorbird

When a band's debut album is both impressive and hugely successful, it's not often that their sophomore effort makes it seem almost average in comparison. But In The Pit Of The Stomach – We Were Promised Jetpacks’ grand, accomplished follow-up to 2009’s These Four Walls – is precisely this rare exception.

We Were Promised Jetpacks spent 2009 and 2010 touring tirelessly on their debut, including a run with Frightened Rabbit and shows supporting Passion Pit and Tokyo Police Club; the band’s second set of U.S. appearances, their first headlining tour, sold out across the board; and they closed out 2010 supporting pop-punk legends Jimmy Eat World on a huge sold-out theater tour.

Armed with the confidence of all that touring, a batch of new, road-tested songs, and a muscular vision for a new record, the band decamped to Sigur Rós’s studio retreat in the frozen wilds of Iceland.

Explains singer Adam Thompson: “We recorded the debut album in 8 days with one short tour under our belts - this time around we spent a full three weeks in the studio recording with [live sound engineer] Andrew Bush and made an album that both captured the sound of our live show and that is strong start to finish.” Peter Katis (Frightened Rabbit , The National) was also on hand for additional mixing and production.

The result, In The Pit Of The Stomach, is a huge leap forward from their debut – full of prickly ambition and grand-scale vision, sure, but with no shortage of the hooks and personal engagement that have earned their debut – and, indeed, their powerful, wrenching live shows – such a wide and devoted following.

From the thundering first attack of lead-off track “Circles & Squares,” to the album’s first single, the dark, driving anthem “Medicine”, to slow-burning, triumphant “Sore Thumb” and the whip-smart, angular “Human Error” – In The Pit Of The Stomach is a fiery, atmospheric listen.

With their sophomore LP, We Were Promised Jetpacks have transcended even the very high expectations created by their beloved debut and subsequent tireless, much-buzzed touring; In The Pit Of The Stomach is, quite simply, a brilliant achievement from this young, exceptional group.