Pic Ben Ashton
The Shape Of Things To Come is the first EP since British rock band First Signs Of Frost emerged from a hiatus a couple of years back; its title as much a declaration of the fresh blossoming sound and creative chapter within the band as the themes it explores across five absorbing tracks.
Formed in 2004, the quartet of guitarist/vocalist Owen Hughes-Holland, guitarist Adam Mason, drummer Will Gates, and bassist Dan Oehlman grabbed keen attention with their debut EP, In Our Final Chapter. 2007 saw Daniel Tompkins join up as lead vocalist before the acclaimed release of first album Atlantic and a period see the band play alongside the likes of Deaf Havana, Enter Shikari, Architects, You Me At Six, We Are The Ocean, Senses Fail, Devil Sold His Soul and many more. Before the fuss had settled around the release, Tompkins left to join TesseracT. His departure left a gap the band struggled to fill; thus their hiatus until Hughes-Holland resurrected the band in 2015. Linking up with Mason again as well as bassist Andy C Saxton (ex-Cry For Silence), vocalist Daniel Lawrence (ex-Kenai / All Forgotten), and drummer Alex Harford, the London quintet immediately sought to explore and push their sound to new imaginative heights with The Shape Of Things To Come the first glimpse of their success.
Immersing inspirations from the likes of Deftones, Tool, Further Seems Forever, and Glassjaw into their invention, First Signs Of Frost swiftly lures ears with opener Meat Week. Its atmospheric calm is a quick enticement, the gentle caress of guitar a matching lure before the brooding air also there sparks a bolder expulsion of sound. Lawrence’s vocals immediately impress, his melodic expression matched by the colluding warm and wiry textures of the sounds around him. An infectious energy is equally as persuasive within the song, every element bold without being forceful but making a strongly emotive and technically alluring temptation on ears and imagination.
The following White Flag potently backs up the great start; its enterprise similarly resourceful and ear catching without making over aggressive trespasses upon the senses. There is elegance to the First Signs Of Frost sound which charms as the craft of the individuals captivates; again making for a gentle almost smouldering seduction carried in a contagious and skilfully conjured proposal.
Latest single Look Alive Sunshine is next up with its own individual melodic rock venture veined by djent scented progressive metal intricacies. There is jaggedness which bites as the vocals and melodies hug the senses; a union which grips and lingers even if the song just fails to touch the plateau of its predecessors before the evocative climate and atmospheric ambience of Atlantis drifts in with the superb vocals of Lawrence and keys to the fore. An instinctive emotional intensity rises within the song, simmering down again before repeating its cycle within the graceful serenade.
The EP closes with Sharks; it too an initially serene coaxing but one soon revealing its djent nurtured teeth and creative volatility within a subsequent sea of melodic and technical but emotionally inflamed tranquillity. It is a fine end to a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable release. The Shape Of Things To Come feels like the first step towards something bigger and bolder but is a full pleasure in its own right; a mix which makes First Signs Of Frost a band which just has to be followed closely.
The Shape Of Things To Come is out now via Basick Records and available @ https://basick.supplies/collections/first-signs-of-frost or http://music.basickrecords.com/album/the-shape-of-things-to-come
https://www.facebook.com/FSOFofficial/
Pete RingMaster 15/08/2017
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
The great start is keenly backed by new video/single North South Divide which too needs little time to have ears lured and bodies bouncing. The swinging beats of drummer James Holdsworth make a great driving impetus to its exploits, the heavier tone of Tommy Roberts’ bass bringing a fine tempering to the fiery flames of guitar which again firmly hold ears and appetite as vocals share the song’s emotive heart. Calmer moments only add to its strength, revealing bolder aspects in the band’s imagination before Inside Out jumps in with its just as keen energy and tenacity. Though it lacks some of the more unpredictable twists of its predecessors, the track is a contagious proposal leaving enjoyment full and giving plenty of clues to the band’s success as a live proposition.
The following Time Stops is a similar fusion of metallic strength and melodic beauty; keys and the melody courting guitar of Calum Radmore weaving melancholic grace and sentiment as the lively beats of Ashley Haskell probe and incite the senses. With Jones’ bass grumble emotionally vocal, the track is a croon of shadow and open hearted yearning led by the vocal potency of Bradford again magnetically supported by Jones.
The second song makes a bolder entrance, keeping its boisterous character going as it slips into a pop punk infused stroll with nagging riffs and eagerly prowling rhythms. Edmonds again impresses as great harmonies soar around him at times, it all gaining greater energy in the track’s rousing chorus which just tops the thrilling encounter perfectly before it hands ears over to the emotively shadowed and musically vibrant Miserable. Riffs and hooks have a bite to them, backed by the rapier swings of Dornan, which accentuates and gives greater character to the melodic endeavour surrounding them. With its predecessor, the song provides the pinnacle of the EP, though the ‘step down’ is barely noticeable as Art School manages to simultaneously croon with emotive flame while whipping up a feisty physical involvement. It might lack the extra spark of adventure of the previous pair, but in no time it tempts with throbbing riffs from bass and guitar amidst the contagious nature of hooks and group vocals, and a blaze of a chorus.
It opens with that first single, and straight away Arrogance has ears welcoming a sturdy wall of hungry riffs and swinging rhythms. Things relax a touch as the vocals step forward though grooves still engagingly flicker and hooks bite through the guitars as those initial rhythms continue to command attention with their tenacious and weighty persuasion. Hitting its stride in no time, the song soon offers a contagiously rousing chorus and an enticing mix of varying intensity and eventful twists; all fine elements in the anthemic proposal that body and voice cannot resist getting involved in. It is a great start and easy to see why the track made people look up last year, and a success potently backed by the following likes of My Skin and Holding Back.
As Seasons opens with Pictures, there is an immediate lure of popping guitar strings as a seductive melody wraps around ears. It is a swiftly engaging entrance to release and song reinforced by the strong melodic tones of Murray and subsequently the darker heavy hues of bass amidst crisp beats. As things evolve, a sultry country tinged twang escapes guitars, sparking brightly against the sombre yet warm atmospheric sky of the song. As it continues, ears are lured deeper into the song’s creative heart, every passing minute a discovery of subtle but openly inventive twists and elements which have laid in wait for their moment to please and intrigue. The band has cited inspirations as coming from bands such as Feeder, You Me at Six, and Twin Atlantic, and similar spices, if not direct comparisons, certainly colour the opener and its following companions.
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.