Here we go everyone, the next batch of young, anthemic British rock bands is in! We may only be days into the new year, but there are already plenty of these bands clamouring for a spot as the press’s next darlings. Hampshire’s Delayed Departure are undoubtedly one of this crop, but as ‘Consequences’ shows, they do have a little something to help them inch ahead of the pack.

That something is a bit more of a crutch than the rest of the competition. While the apparent influences from Architects and While She Sleeps never overtly materialise, there’s certainly a decent dose of their heft added into the rather tiresome pop-rock that isn’t exactly a breath of fresh air, but is noticeable enough, and noticeably an improvement.

It doesn’t appear often, but when it does, it provides the definite highlights of this EP. The driving ‘Let’s Catch Fire’ is a prime example, employing a bit of Bullet For My Valentine-style riffing and snarls from vocalist Mike Harland for something still hugely accessible, but with a bit more pace than the norm.

Sticking to the set template still works for them though. The chunkier riffs add a bit more teeth to the familiar Brit-rock noise as on ‘Synopsis’, while losing none of the widescreen appeal on the likes of ‘Ocean’.

Of course, being a new band there are the inevitable mis-steps, present here in the sluggish, listless ‘Captive’ and opener ‘Opus’, which uncomfortably floats between the identities of an intro and an unfinished song.

But overall though, with Delayed Departure we have yet another incredibly promising band with the potential to go onto big things. And with a sound that they’ve genuinely made their own, it would be a shame if they didn’t.

3.5/5

‘Consequences’ EP by Delayed Departure is released on January 22nd.

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Words by Luke Nuttall(@nuttall_luke)