As voices and words gain momentum in offering attention and praise to All Ears Avow, the UK rockers add fuel to the rising fire with their new EP Edge Of This. Six tracks of melody wrapped, riff driven alternative rock, the release is a fresh and appetising slice of rock ‘n’ roll sure to reinforce if not give new impetus to their growing reputation.
Since emerging in 2013, the Swindon quartet has released a pair of increasingly well-received EPs, in the shape of Home (2013) and Reach (2016), and nurtured an eager following and praise for a live presence taking in shows with the likes of Decade, The Computers, Empire, Verses, Jonah Matranga (Far), and Milk Teeth among many, as well as successful slots at festivals such as Wychwood and Gloucester Guildhall’s Underground Festival amidst their own successful UK tours. Edge Of This points to the band being ready to attract even keener and bigger spotlights whilst carrying the potential of even bolder and unique exploits ahead.
The band has drawn comparisons to the likes of Muse, Don Broco, and Biffy Clyro with their sound, references easy to understand as EP opener Caged instantly demands and commands attention; Lower Than Atlantis coming to mind too. As a blurred background assembles, a wiry hook taunts; its intriguing bait soon joined by the potent tones of vocalist/guitarist Claire Sutton. In no time it all comes to a focus driven by the fiercely punchy beats of Sean Ivens. That initial hook still makes a rich lure, even as just as tasty riffs and chords between Sutton and fellow guitarist Jake Willcock collude. By this time Sutton’s voice is seizing a fair share of attention, her tones swiftly impressive alongside that lingering and still deliciously grouchy hook. The track is superb, a mighty way to kick things off and for personal tastes never equalled across the remainder of the highly enjoyable release.
The song is pure hungry rock ‘n’ roll setting a lofty bar which next up Gone certainly has a keen go at rivalling. With its angular but warm melody, the song is a much mellower proposal carrying steel in its presence and attitude rather than the kind of snarl fuelling its predecessor. The dark basslines of Joe Bishop add a great contrast to the lighter but thickly emotive aspects whilst Iven’s swings again have an imposing weight even if showing more restraint than before. With Sutton again pure enticement as melodic flames are ignited by the guitars, the track has ears and imagination hooked before new single Hurricane saunters in with a confident smile to its character and an infectious swagger to its swinging grooving. With unbridled catchiness shaping its rousing chorus and indeed instrumental asides, the song hits the spot dead centre.
Earlier single Just For Me comes next, showing with its muscular body and dark shadows why it alone sparked strong anticipation for the EP. Almost nagging ears with its array of hooks and temptation, the song provides a meaty piece of emotion soaked pop ‘n’ roll with a good spicing of electronic goodness while the following EP title track delves even deeper into the band’s pop natured creativity. The song still has a heavy essence and stubbornness to its physical skeleton but within a melody woven balladry with its own catchy captivation.
Completed by the similarly emotional power ballad of The Middle, a song like the last needing a touch more time to spark the same level of pleasure as those before but undoubtedly getting there with ease, Edge Of This is a potent next step in the ascent of All Ears Avow. As suggested, it does feel like a step in the way to something bigger and finer from the foursome whilst offering a relentlessly enjoyable outing easily outshining a great many similar genre based releases heard this year so far; suggesting there are big times ahead for All Ears Avow.
Edge Of This is out now and available through http://www.allearsavow.bigcartel.com/ and https://allearsavow.bandcamp.com/
http://www.allearsavow.com/ https://www.facebook.com/allearsavowband https://twitter.com/AEAOfficial
Pete RingMaster 03/05/2017
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
Formed in 2014, the quartet soon sparked keen online attention with the release of debut single Start It From The End, its release soon followed by over 60,000 views on YouTube and the luring of over 30,000 followers across social media since. Drawing on inspirations ranging from Fall Out Boy, You Me At Six, and Panic! At The Disco to Foo Fighters, Young Guns, and Lower Than Atlantis, the band’s sound has persistently evolved with each release too starting with their impressing debut EP, We’ve Come A Long Way. Live the band has equally earned a potent reputation, sharing stages with bands such as The Blackout, William Control, Metro Station, Motion City Soundtrack, Fearless Vampire Killers, and Verses along the way. Both the Love Struck Kids and I Rewind singles of last year hinted at further growth in songwriting and sound which now People Change backs with infectious charm.
First, and released a number of days back, is the Seb Berrios and Arthur Indrikovs (Florence & the Machine, Foxes, Jon Newman, Clean Bandit) produced Love Struck Kids. Immediately hefty rhythms and keenly eager riffs are rapping ears but equally a melody built sonic persuasion is there coaxing ears too before the strong voice of Alex Fearn erupts with equal colour. It is a powerful and thickly enticing start which only grips a little tighter as the guitars of Tom Shepherd and Fearn flirt with open enterprise and the commanding rhythmic bait of bassist Tom Jack Jackson and drummer Mark Highdale sets to work.
cynical?), things start properly with I Swear To God I’m Going To Pistol Whip The Next Guy Who Says Shenanigans, a track which emerges from the coaxing of that potent brief starting piece. The guitars of Rich Sanders and Keiran Heath cast a pleasing graze of riffs and sonic tempting across the ears but it is the great throaty tone of Adam Hall’s bass which steal the initial focus most of all. That is until the excellent vocals lay their compelling hand on the suasion. Whether it is Sanders or Heath which leads the narrative, both driving the vocals together across the release, we cannot say but it is hard not to take to the delivery as keenly the potent sounds around them. With the drums of Kurtis Maiden a respectful but thumping protagonist to it all, the song makes a powerful marker for the release to follow. Melodies and hooks do not demand but command a healthy appetite towards them whilst the accomplished stance and flavoursome weave of enterprise just catches the imagination.