It’s little wonder so many new British bands attempt to replicate the sound of big hitters like Mallory Knox and Lower Than Atlantis – the former are currently dominating the States on Warped Tour, while the latter have just announced a European stadium run with Linkin Park. With that in mind, Berkshire quartet Elasea are definitely in with a shot at the big time; their new EP ‘Where I Belong’ fits like a glove into the mould of big, anthemic rock.

Maybe it’s a bit unfair to suggest that they’re entirely unoriginal, as there are a few moments here where they borrow from some less utilised influences. Opener ‘Glass Heart’ has an InMe-style jaggedness to it, and a nice bit of bite surfaces sporadically through ‘Time Is Against Us’. Other than that, it’s pretty standard stuff – your typical big choruses, impassioned vocals and driving guitar lines. Sure, it’s catchy, but it often fails to allow Elasea to properly stand out from the crowd. ‘Lost In The Dark’ is the worst offender, with lyrics that were probably intended to be poignant and heartfelt coming across as simply clichéd and trite (“If you’re lost in the dark I’ll be the light that guides you home” – seriously?)

It may be easy to criticise, but Elasea do have some real talent for crafting anthems, and it’s shown to a good level on ‘Where We Belong’. But innovation is key, and it’s something they’ll have to be mindful of sooner rather than later if they want to survive.

3/5

‘Where We Belong’ by Elasea released on 3rd August.

Elasea links: Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp

Words by Luke Nuttall(@nuttall_luke)