INTERVIEW: ARCANE ROOTSHaving finally released début album ‘Blood And Chemistry,’ we met up with vocalist/guitarist Andrew Groves to discuss the new album, being compared to Biffy Clyro and more.
INTERVIEW: NATIVESCurrently on tour with The Summer Set and a new EP set to be released soon, we caught
up with New Forest's Natives to talk about the new EP and album, the UK rock scene, the transition from being Not Advised to becoming Natives and much more.
FIVES: THE BEST WONDER YEARS SONGSThis week Lansdale, Pennsylvania’s The Wonder Years released their fourth album - ‘The Greatest Generation,’ a record that sees the pop punk quintet reach their creative peak in a number of ways. With a wealth of material in their discography, Already Heard's Sean Reid and Tom Knott took on the tricky task of picking out the five best songs from The Wonder Years. Find out what we picked and let us know if you agree or disagree?
INTERVIEW: MALLORY KNOXFollowing the release of their superb 'Signals' album, Mallory Knox have certainly become ones to watch in recent months. We caught up with the band to discuss joining Search & Destroy Records, how vital the festival season and touring are, what it feels like to be a part
of the expanding British rock scene and much more.
ALREADY HEARD RECOMMENDS: OVER THE OCEANOver The Ocean have crafted a compelling, brooding record with their latest effort ‘Be Given To The Soil.’ With intense specific precision and delicate accuracy that echoes the likes of Explosions In The Sky and Sigur Ros. Jesse Hill from the band to discusses how the
album came together, the importance of precision, being compared to post-rock pioneers and more.
VERSUS: BRING ME THE HORIZON - 'THERE IS A HELL...' VS 'SEMPITERNAL'After a top ten UK album and an outstanding UK tour with festival dates on both sides of the Atlantic to follow, Bring Me The Horizon are having a fantastic 2013 and are now featured in the latest edition of "Versus." It's ‘There is a Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There is a Heaven, Let’s Keep it a Secret’ vs the bands latest release, 'Sempiternal.'
ALREADY HEARD TRACK GUIDE: ALEXANDER - SAY HELLOWe catch up with Newcastle Indie Rock quartet Alexander to find out more about their debut album 'Say Hello' for a “Already Heard Track Guide” feature.
Album Review: Joia - Match Light EP
Over the past five or so years, any pop rock band with a female vocalist has instantly been compared to that band beginning with ‘P’ (you know the one) and for London’s Joia they have the same predicament but thankfully this début EP (‘Match Light’) allows the quintet the establish their own sound.
The title track is a strong opener with an atmospheric verse giving away to a stirring chorus with confident vocals from Athina Andrelos. Whilst the bands guitar-focused sound is appreciated and give them a needed edge. Whereas ‘Enough of You’ and ‘Our Town’ shows the bands poppy capabilities and with decent musicianship and song-structure, Joia are able to keep you hooked.
On the other hand ‘Let Down’ is a more sincere affair and takes a slight ballad-esque with drifting guitars waving in and out track and hints at the bands potential to stretch beyond the standard pop rock sound.
For a début release, ‘Match Light’ succeeds in Joia’s mission of simply being noticed as over the course of four songs they have confidently shown their ability to write pleasing pop rock songs that have an appreciative, mature substance rather than the usual energetic, catchy songs their US counterparts often provide.
If they can expand on their ideas and avoid the Paramore comparison pitfall, Joia could be on to something.
3.5/5
‘Match Light’ EP by Joia is released as a free download on July 16th.
