Over The Hills And Far Away, The Teletubbies, Slowly Succumbed To Hypothermia...
Some situations in life are difficult...you know like, tackling GCSE level algebra (Seriously who the fuck needs algebra? I mean think about it, maths is depressing enough as it is with a literal infinite amount of numbers, who the fuck decided it would be fun to include the alphabet?! I want to stab you in the face with a compass!) but when it comes to a music review, it's tricky to do your homework on a band when their only main story/selling point on social media is a quote taken from a separate review they had, from a publisher you yourself used to write for, completely contradicting your opinion on said band...well that ladies and gentleman is the predicament I find myself in right now. The band in question is Cardiff based quartet ARCADIAN HEART and, Noizze spoke of their self-titled EP in high regard..praising their commanding presence and unique sound...well recently the band got in touch with me personally through Twitter...I promised them a listen and a write-up...I may or may not have disagreed with Noizze...
We open up with "Elephant" and the title suggests something big, something authoritative but really in a way it's calling your bluff, the elephant in the room some might even say...while it's undeniably a riff-heavy hard-rock number...very 90's grunge-era in tone, like the elephant itself it's annoyingly grey. Yes it's got blues elements, yes it is a solid guitar driven track full of grit, it all falls flat because of what are essentially weak vocals, compared to the climatic instrumental work, vocally you'd say this song was....bored. "Frozen Blood" follows up with a hushed, delicate intro before slowly building towards a THRICE-inspired, soft, alt-rock number and while that's not entirely a bad thing, not at all, it's the vocals again that drag it down, gang-vocals aside, annoyingly sub-par...
"Where Are We Now" again utilises a soft intro but here sounding more based in indie-rock, albeit heavier, naturally...imagine a band somewhere between THE KOOKS and ASH to some aspects...but it soon becomes very much riff orientated and to some degree it's very much akin to early emo, when bands were raw not rambunctious in a soppy or theatrical sense, before we finish up on "Breaking Bones" and again we have a solid riff-heavy offering. Initially we have elements of ROYAL BLOOD throughout but there are deeper tones layered within this track that would maybe appeal to fans of say, TOOL (listen for it, honestly)...this is much better really and the guitar solo is a superb surprise, honestly the highlight of the whole EP, adding some much needed life, however it ends all too abruptly just as it was getting interesting.
While musically I can't deny that this EP is heading in the right direction, with plenty of positives; be it structure, tone...a riff-laden dose of hard-rock you simply have to appreciate, the EP here is massively let down vocally...it misses the mark, weakening the EP. Arcadian Heart? Follow it, please, go live in the trees for a bit, take a deep breath of country air then try again...[4]
We open up with "Elephant" and the title suggests something big, something authoritative but really in a way it's calling your bluff, the elephant in the room some might even say...while it's undeniably a riff-heavy hard-rock number...very 90's grunge-era in tone, like the elephant itself it's annoyingly grey. Yes it's got blues elements, yes it is a solid guitar driven track full of grit, it all falls flat because of what are essentially weak vocals, compared to the climatic instrumental work, vocally you'd say this song was....bored. "Frozen Blood" follows up with a hushed, delicate intro before slowly building towards a THRICE-inspired, soft, alt-rock number and while that's not entirely a bad thing, not at all, it's the vocals again that drag it down, gang-vocals aside, annoyingly sub-par...
"Where Are We Now" again utilises a soft intro but here sounding more based in indie-rock, albeit heavier, naturally...imagine a band somewhere between THE KOOKS and ASH to some aspects...but it soon becomes very much riff orientated and to some degree it's very much akin to early emo, when bands were raw not rambunctious in a soppy or theatrical sense, before we finish up on "Breaking Bones" and again we have a solid riff-heavy offering. Initially we have elements of ROYAL BLOOD throughout but there are deeper tones layered within this track that would maybe appeal to fans of say, TOOL (listen for it, honestly)...this is much better really and the guitar solo is a superb surprise, honestly the highlight of the whole EP, adding some much needed life, however it ends all too abruptly just as it was getting interesting.
While musically I can't deny that this EP is heading in the right direction, with plenty of positives; be it structure, tone...a riff-laden dose of hard-rock you simply have to appreciate, the EP here is massively let down vocally...it misses the mark, weakening the EP. Arcadian Heart? Follow it, please, go live in the trees for a bit, take a deep breath of country air then try again...[4]
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