[avatar =”Ross” size=”50″ align=”left” /]
Reigning Days were a band who caught my eye immediately. I’m a massive fan of three-piece bands as there’s something so raw about them. It means nothing musically has room to hide but it has weight behind it, unlike many band comprised of two people.
Ensnared by their massive riffs and songs which could be played in a stadium or a cramped and sweaty club, I knew this band was one worth keeping an eye on. With an impressive slot with Wilson earlier this year, an album on the horizon, their self-titled debut EP is a taster of what is due to come later this year.
Kicking things off with the huge “Empire”, it’s a filthy beast of a song with the intent to capture your attention from the beginning. Loaded with fuzz and distortion, you can hear the Royal Blood influence but it’s been built upon, almost as if they nicked it from the two-piece for themselves and made a full song. The accompanying video shows the band’s colourful sense of humour in all its glory as the band work a con in a back-alley casino.
“Renegade” plays host to some amazing breakdowns which will force you to move involuntarily in time with the music. And when I say move, I mean mosh like fuck, obviously. Containing some of the most cerebral lyrics on the EP, it’s chock-full of imagery. Again, it ditches a pretty ethereal intro before diving head-first into balls-out rock territory with its radio-friendly twist.
Meanwhile, you have “Friendly Fire” with its deceptive intro before things are kicked up a notch. This was my introduction to the band and once the infectious chorus hit, it was what converted me to a fan. Featuring brash and rough-around-the-edges guitar licks, it didn’t take much once it reared its head.
New to me (the first three songs have already been presented to the world), “Crazy Horse” takes the band on a more sombre route after the preceding high-octane tracks. Turning the fuzz up even further, they ensure that even the new track is a catchy number and you’ll be singing along in no time.
Since they’re sounding tight and polished (like they do in the flesh), it’s proof of concept that if you put in hard work, you’ll get the due dividends. The trio have a busy time ahead with festivals where I plan to see them again (Camden Rocks and ) and they’ll be up there with the best of both events. Reigning Days is intended as a teaser of the full album and if it’s even remotely like this, it’ll be nothing short of spectacular.
Reigning Days is released today!
