Debut four track Ep and the first thing you notice is that the production is just spot on - this band have made the wise move of going into a studio (the excellent T-Pot Studios in Perthshire) to get this recorded and the difference between this and so many other rock-based EP's that I receive is unreal. Next thing is that this is no ordinary rock or metal band - there's something special going on here, so let me enlighten you.
The opener, "I Am Your Leader" is quite simply fantastic. Revolving around a swirling, almost bluesy, almost slide-guitar riff that gets in your head and stays there - as the bass and drums pump out this urgent, driving, lurching rhythm that has you swaying irresistibly as the vocals - pitched somewhere around Robert Plant-meets-Geddy Lee level - just soar above the thunderous riffing and driving beats, the song as a whole so refreshing and addictive, the only thing you want to do when you've heard it - is hear it again - yes, it's THAT good a track. But the EP beckons.........
Next up is "Given Up" and this one has a decided seventies flavour to the opening rhythm, almost a bit like old style Budgie in many respects as a lead guitar soars over the driving rhythm section, and a vocal ensues that wouldn;t sound out of place on a classic Budgie album, in fact the whole song could be said to be that - but there is, again, an urgency to the playing while the vocals, solo and multi-tracked, are the focal point as the guiatrs and rhythm section propel the track to wards a steaming guitar solo and a mid-ection riff that's pure Budgie - but in a good way, for this is a refreshing take on an old style that just works to perfection - and I'd like to be the band have probably never heard a Budgie album - then again........ - either way, for anyone into classic sounding seventies-derived rock, this is manna from heaven.
"Get To Near" opens with electrifying guitar as another driving rhythm and memorable riff, reveals lead and backing vocal that is almost early Roling Stones in its mannerisms and stylings, the track not a million miles away from a slice of classic, early. driving Stones, given a refreshing indie makeover, so that the guitar leads and rhythms really leap out at you, a short and sharp solo adding to the flavour, while the vocals just shine and the song becomes just over three minutes of quality, memorable, addictive commercial rock with a hint of blues.
Finally, "Say It Again" which, in keeping with all the other songs on the album, has another memorable riff that sinks into your skin in adddictive fashion, while the combination of shimmering lead and wah-wah guitars, driving rhythms and those immaculate vocals, this time delivering the lyrics in an urgent, impassioned style, positively flying above the addictive rhythms and riffs, as the whole thing fades slowly into the west - simply leaving you want to play the whole thing again - 16+ minutes of refreshing rock that covers whole seas of influences - Zep, Budgie, Stones, Nazareth to name but a few that came to mind - yet wholly original at the same time and where each song is a gem waiting to be discovered and played, long, loud and often.
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