Our Verdict: These City Lights EP 'Where We Stand'

On April 1^st These City Lights unleashed their debut EP ‘Where We Stand’ on the world and successfully established their place in the London Rock scene.

Unfortunately These City Lights have been forced to back out of a couple of shows recently due to Rob Butcher (drums) not being in the best of health. However, they are now preparing for their June tour alongside Kids Can’t Fly and it’s only sensible that we take a close look at “Where We Stand” and reacquaint ourselves with the brilliant work.

As opening tracks go ‘Through Their Eyes’ is exceptional. The pacing guitar lines are exciting. The viscious and dominating drum tracks are aggressive. Together this track is full-on creating an incomparable belligerence that underlines everything this band is about.

There is a two second breather halfway through this opening belter but it doesn’t last long and any live crowd will be plunged back into the heavy head-thrashing that will inevitably ensue.   

It is near impossible to hear that opening track and not take notice because These City Lights make it incredibly palpable that something exhilarating is about to blast through the speakers.

Vocals, delivered by Aaron Paxton, are a more honed version of those associated with The Used’s Bert McCracken. Paxton’s range is truly impressive stretching from wildly fierce to whisperingly sexy in a second.

If you haven’t already seen These City Lights live then the opening to second track ‘Breathe’ should give you some idea of what you’ll be raring to do the second that you get the chance to. Another helping of ferocious drums imitates an adoring crowd smashing their hands together.

Once the adrenaline of the drums begins to subside Paxton’s vocals electrify again by pleading “I need you now.”

Throughout the EP Tommy Earl and Charlie Lunn (guitars) work unbelievably well together to really frame the utter rage that is simmering within “Where We Stand.” If anything this skill is not exhibited enough.

‘Breathe’ finishes on a quieter note that third track ‘Labelled Liar’ picks up from. But don’t worry, it ploughs right back into the fast paced destructive nature that, by now, These City Lights have made the audience need.

Penultimate track ‘Torn Apart’ pulls the same trick off, starting on a slower tempo where the vocals are decelerated to a talking pace. It’s not too long before the track is dragged right back into the gritty anger that this whole EP has been gearing towards.  

With final track ‘Counting Your Sins’ it is safe to say that someone has royally hacked off These City Lights and to that person we say thank you! Without you there would be a ‘Where We Stand’ shaped hole in the world. This last track is a slight change of pace but still perfectly hits the mark. There is a much more sombre middle which includes a stunning a capella moment.

‘Where We Stand’ is available for download (for a price of your choice) from thesecitylights.bandcamp.com. If you want it for free just enter 0.00 when asked. 

From Embers EP - Our Verdict

Born in the heart of Manchester, From Embers are one of the city’s up-and-coming post-hardcore outfits, on the verge of releasing their new 4-track self-titled EP.

On May 9^th Louder Now announced that the bands EP would be released on May 25^th. Now we have a copy of From Embers melodic post-hardcore stylings and can confirm that it is set to enthral all fans of metalcore, hardcore, pop-punk and more.

Opening track, ‘Crash and Burn’ is even grittier then previous samples could have illustrated. It’s a dark anthem with a positive ‘get angry and carry on’ attitude. Girls, take advice from this EP. Don’t screw with any of the boys from From Embers. Move over Adele, you’re not the only one who can write a world class selection of songs about a break-up.

David Ramsdens (lead vocals) extreme screaming talent flashes throughout this EP but perhaps nowhere more then this first track. His controlled but aggressive vocal skill brings something to this band that so many others have tried but often miss the mark.

But the real beauty of this band comes from not one input but the collection of talents on show. The best example of this is in second track ‘I’ve Never Been Better’. Continuing the heartbroken theme that is threaded through this EP, ‘I’ve Never Been Better’ also gives Michael Byron-Hehir (vocals and guitars) a real chance to show how his vocals combined with that of Ramsdens can create something almost unrivalled.  

This track also shows From Embers talent to not just be loud for the hell of it. The quartet’s ability to be an indisputably heavy band who knows how to create a softer gem knows no bounds.

Just when you think that From Embers have shown the height of their hybrid talents they top it. Third track from this EP, ‘Silence’, shows a flawless collaboration between the beautifully voiced Jenna Clare (Leopards) whose progressive style combines with the vocals of Ramsden and Byron-Hehir spectacularly.

‘Silence’ is an epic at 7 minutes long, but there is no better way to show the amalgam of styles that From Embers have made possible. The vocal crosses are just the start of this. Melodic and almost soothing guitar lines fuse with heavy classic-metal drum beats to finalise a sound that will shoot From Embers through the roof.

Final track, ‘Sorry, No Returns (Now Get Back On Your Knees)’, closes the EP perfectly by exhibiting what it will lead on to. Parts of this track have clearly been sculpted for live performances that will get crowds up and down the country screaming and yelling if they get the chance to breathe.

There is no doubt that this EP is a masterful combination of a whole host of skills that individually are clever but together are completely and utterly perfect.