With passion and angst dripping from every syllable and note, the self-titled EP from UK alternative punks Patrons is the first encounter from a band it is easy to suspect we will all be hearing plenty more of in the future. The three track release is not one which barges in and demands your acclaim or sparks an eagerness to shout from the rooftops about its merits, but slowly and potently from a certainly attention grabbing first bluster across the ears it emerges as a highly evocative and willing persuasion. Good things have been said about the band and it is easy to see why with their first introduction via I Hate It Records.
Hailing from Plymouth, Patrons was formed in 2013 with a sound which was soon being wrapped in references to bands such as This Will Destroy You, Thrice, Reuben, and La Dispute. Their live shows have also recruited high praise, another aspect to them which will be taken further afield with the band’s plan to tour across the UK and mainland Europe later this year in support of the EP. Recorded with producer James Bragg at Middle Farm Studios in Devon, the EP is a cauldron of emotion and intensity which not only thrusts the heart and power of their sound forward but more than hints on how incendiary you imagine their stage presence to be.
As soon as Rituals strokes the ear with guitar and subsequently bass tempting there is an instantly brewing feeling of drama as well as a 
building recognition that the band knows how to craft and present narratives which grip and incite intimately as well as on a broader scale. The vocals of guitarist Danny Brooks bring a richly expressive and angst kissed presence to the song and lyrical presentation, a strong texture which seems to spark a greater hunger and urgency to the guitar designs of himself and Mark Hoynes whilst the rhythmic provocation of James Corby courted by the velvety tones of Olly Reed’s bass bring thick and equally compelling shadows to the invasively appealing colour of the track. It is a striking persuasion which d rides the senses with unreserved emotion whilst tantalising the imagination with continually evolving ideas and adventure. It is not a song which wholly steals the memory but rather offers small unforgettable treats which you hang onto and put together for a longer reflection. It is an unusual aspect but one which works very well.
Movements is a less impacting compared to Rituals, but no less forceful in tone and emotional weight. As the track croons and pleads its purposeful suasion you can see where certainly small comparisons to Reuben have emerged even if Patrons has some way to go to match the stature of one of our favourite bands. As the rhythmic design bullies the ears whilst the intensive emotional pressure of the song does a similar thing to the senses, the track comes alive to emulate the whole EP in making a stronger lingering convincing the more you immerse in its heartbreak and vocal desperation.
From a minor weak first few seconds where the first glance of vocals seems to lack the strength of the guitar around them and the inevitable outpouring of Brooks soon after, third song Little Victories is soon wrapping its endeavour and melodic seduction around the senses courted by fine harmonic heat from Brooks, all from within the tempestuous weight and fire of caustic guitar enterprise and rhythmic incitement. The song is a magnetic piece of songwriting, the best track on the release and a strong indicator to the prowess and thoughtful inventive craft of the band in creating and delivering their impacting excursions.
The band’s first release does not put a match to the passions but undoubtedly has them smouldering enthusiastically for them and their evolving potential. As we said at the top, expect Patrons to be a proposition that is a regular contributor to the buzz around the music world.
http://www.wearepatrons.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/wearepatrons
8/10
RingMaster 31/03/2104
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