With big guitars and bigger hooks comes Brightlight City. Their second EP, ‘Adventures’, follows an impressive 2014 which saw them play festivals alongside Young Guns, Deaf Havana and Don Broco and garnered radio airplay via XFM and BBC 6Music. Whilst on paper their CV is somewhat impressive, does ‘Adventures’ back it up? It’s tough to say. With ‘Adventures’ coming at just three songs deep and past the eleven minute mark, it’s clear Brightlight City has something going for them. Opening track ‘The Finish Line’ is reminscent of Jimmy Eat World and mixes favourable hooks with strong riffs and an energetic chorus. When it is paired with ‘I Am Only Good At Adventures’, it’s clear Brightlight City have the knack of producing anthemic but sincere pop-rock songs down to a tee. It’s just unfortunate for them it’s an over-saturated market.
The closing track, ‘Reaction’, sees the quintet head in a more straight-up rock approach. I’d even go far as saying it reminded me of Creed (sorry guys). Nevertheless the edgy guitars compliment an impressive vocal display from Jamie Giarraputo. Whilst the band’s consistent approach of producing big chroruses means ‘Reaction’ doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
As an introduction to Brightlight City, ‘Adventures’ plants a seed that makes you interested in what their next release, a seven-track mini-album, has to offer. However ‘Adventures’’ downfall is that the band’s style isn’t anything exceptional and even forgettable.
Whilst there is a hint of potential on ‘Adventures’, Brightlight City will have to producing that something extra on their next outing.
2.5/5
‘Adventures’ EP by Brightlight City is released on 15th May.
Brightlight City links: Website|Facebook|Twitter|Soundcloud|YouTube
Words by Sean Reid (@SeanReid86)
