The Detours: EP Review

 

They Should Frequent Radio

Rory Beck

Band: The Detours

EP/Single/Album: Ignite (EP)

Genre: Alternative Rock

Tracks: 3

Before anything can be said on track and EP review – the sound of the band playing together was incredibly well put together. They gel so well and clearly and comfortable playing as a group; no sound is out of place, and the entire band is clearly all in the same boat as one another. The three track Ignite EP just proves how talented the group of five really are. It's obvious that each member loves being a part of the music they make by the sound blasting through the speakers.

Even still, listening to the three songs, it's incredibly easy to see why The Detours have such popularity within those lucky enough to know of them, and it's easy to see why they can play the stage with bigger groups and hold their own. With any luck, The Detours will have bigger bands opening for them at some stage in their career.

Ignite -

A hard rock, very professional, solid sounding song. It was well mixed, very nice use of vocals (lead and backup), guitars and drums – easily could play in the rock charts and do well for itself. The whole track itself feels very fitting for music tastes now; easily could be played to a mix of younger and older audience with appreciation. Classic rock feel mixed with a modern feel for something hard to place, but easy to like. The pace isn't too high, but it isn't slow, giving the audience a chance to work into the EP and get an idea of what's happening. It's probably the heaviest track on the EP, but that doesn't take anything away from it.

Free -

The song has a feel of of A Day to Remember – Free is a solid track that again could easily be played on the charts, radio or television and bring in plenty of listeners. Much like the previous track, it streams of an appreciation for classic rock in a mix with the modern sound and feel, making it easily appealing to a wide range of audiences. Beautiful sounding solo, fantastically fitting with the track, and timed well enough that it would sound amazing live.

One Last Chance -

This one is just slightly slower than the previous two, but top class rock; it possesses more of a Fall Out Boy feel – but make no mistake, Fall Out Boy in the height of popularity at on their best days - the track quickly has a bouncing leg, a nodding head and the desire to hear it played as part of the crowd. The lyrics are great once more, and a nice sound and tone, infectious tone rings throughout the whole piece. One Last Chance is the lead song for the EP as well as their first music video, and it's obvious to see why.

My only real issue with the Ignite EP that it was only three tracks – not a slight at the band, I just enjoyed it immensely and wished there was more. With that said, it brings hope that in the future there will be a full album from the group – they sound fantastic on recording alone, and it really leaves you wondering how good they'll be live if you've never had that joy. Go and buy tickets, go and show support and go and enjoy the top class sound that is The Detours. From their beginnings they had amazing levels of local fan support, the likes that Guns'N'Roses, Motley Crue and others had to make them something that had to be taken seriously. If they keep up, there's no telling what heights that The Detours can really hit. From what I heard on the EP, they really should be getting more radio coverage, plastered all over music TV and booked onto bigger festival bills. They sound fantastic.

Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

In my book, if a group release an EP that make me dying to hear more, they've done their job right. If a band can do it in three songs with the same effect I have on an album that's being replayed in my iTunes? They've accomplished far more than just their job. If this EP is anything, it's a sign that The Detours are a brightly shining star.

Listen to their EP!
Check out their website!
Like them on Facebook!
Watch their music video!
Buy their merch!



Comment and share, suggest groups, albums and EPs for me to review. I read the comments and I will always respond.

Gambit Glasgow: EP Review

Losing Their Minds, Winning Our Hearts

Rory Beck

Band: Gambit

EP/Single/Album: Beginning to Lose Our Minds (EP)

Genre: Alternative Rock

Tracks: 6

Once you hit play, you're met with something you don't really expect. It has a steady build, but as soon as it's going, you've found something. A cover of a song that was hugely popular on it's release – Tinie Tempah's Pass Out. It easily sounds better. Gambit did something I really didn't think anyone could do; they made a cover of a song I hate, and made me love it.

As soon as that closes, you're met with Homewrecker, the EP's ballad track. It's big in sound, it's big in feel - the guitars deserve to be played in a stadium somewhere. The vocals are gritty yet full, and the underlying arpeggio with the intro are all just what the group need to really sink you in - especially after being so easily snaked by the Pass Out cover.

Smoke's up next, and this time we have a more modern rock style piece – like what you'd hear played on the rock radio stations. It fits neatly behind Homewrecker; it's not too fast, it's not too slow. It's just somewhere in the middle, letting you recover for the pace – the piece of fluid and fluent.

Mr. Impossible is a real eye catcher – the same feeling I got when I first listened to Alice in Chains' Man in a Box track quickly overwhelms me. It's solid, it's firm, it's gripping; it's melodic grunge at it's finest. The gruff, gritty sound with plenty of dischord and disonance, the kind of song you want to soundtrack with a grueling movie fight scene.

As Mr. Impossible closes, I'm met with what is probably my favourite song of the album. One Last Look is All I Got is like a great Red Hot Chilli Peppers track had sex with an excellent Audioslave number. It's got a feel of funk and groove through an eargasmic sounding bass. One Last Look is just a little slower, giving you a little extra time to let it all sink in. This was the song that really got my attention on the album playthrough. As soon as the intro hit, I was trying to guess the drumbeat while I tapped my toes and nodded away; once the rest of the band join in, you have the song's greatest bonus – more song.

Kalifornia rounds the album off the way it came in. Quicker paced, a bit heavier again, and really getting to make use of Kieran's gritty vocals. The song is nicely mixed and perform, and if the audio is anything to go by, the group enjoyed playing the song from start to end.

On the whole, the EP is an easy success – if not one of the best I've heard to begin. The tracks are consistantly well played, with great use of varying their styles. Allan's bass work is beautifully rhythmic and on time, well versed, well rehearsed and audioably enjoyed. Johnny's guitar work sits so nicely over it and helps make a bridge between guitar, bass and drums as the three come together in near perfect unison. The group effort is damn near unmatched, if it weren't for the high standard, high quality sound that eminate from the speakers. Kieran's vocals are well used and called on for all the right moments in order to make something that's just a little bit more special. Of course, Mark's drumming can't be ignored as he rips into a mix of headbanging fills and body moving beats. If the EP is anything to go by, their live work will consist of them dominating the stage. Former guitarist, Euan, sat in nicely with his own style of playing guitar, harmonising neatly to co-exist and fill the sound for each track I blared from the computer.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 4/5

While the EP is an amazing piece of work by Gambit, the lost star comes in that there's still room for improvement. There was a few timing misteps, though this could be more to do with editing than performance. All in all a top quality, enjoyable listen, and hopefully a sign of things to come.

Listen to their EP!

Like them on Facebook!

You can also find them on ReverbNation!

And on Myspace!

Comment and share, suggest groups, albums and EPs for me to review. I read the comments and I will always respond.

Introduction to the Reviews

The Increative Way

So, it took me a while, but I thought, hey, maybe I should do some music reviews, right?

Well, that is what I shall do. I'll be reviewing local talent on their EPs, live performances and albums as well as reviewing new album releases as they come and go. Now, don't fret, I'm not getting paid for any of this, so what you see will be my God honest opinion in whatever style and spiel I manage to put it in.

Each article will feature a star rating system going from 1 - 5, 5 being highest and 1 being lowest. Or, as I like to imagine it....

★☆☆☆☆ - My ears are crying, and my eyes are bleeding...

 

★★☆☆☆ - Like swallowing vomit...

 

★★★☆☆ - The sound-track to my elevator experience.

 

★★★★☆ - This shit be awesome!

 

★★★★★ - Eargasm!

Seems simple enough, right? Right! So, let's go.

By the way, you can call me Rory, 'cause that's how I roll.