- @TwoDaff
Rotten EP - THIS IS WAR!
By Daffs aka @TwoDaff
I have been following Mersey rockers THIS IS WAR! for quite some time now, having reviewed a number of tracks over the last year. And there has been a few I may add, 2022 saw them release a track every month, every one energy charged, anthemic with huge guitar riffs, driving bass lines and vocals that pick you up, give a shake and leave you in a heap leaving you wondering what the hell just happened.
THIS IS WAR! consist of former Black Velvets frontman Paul Carden (Vocals), Mike Mullard (Rhythm and Backing Vocals), Jonny Roberts (Lead Guitar), Martin Leah (Drums) and Andy Williams (Bass). All tracks are recorded and mixed by Si Jones of The Verve and Crash Studios Andy Farnihough. With a long list of previous releases including ‘Pyramids’ ‘Exile Poet’ 'Crossfire Fever’ and ‘Weekend’ to name but a few they plan to release an album in the not-too-distant future.
With an energetic stage show the band continue to raise the bar with every release and are the first band to release their music on the NFT Crypto platform. The forthcoming album is set be filled with huge guitar riffs, anthemic lyrics and, with a fully constructed band that’s comfortable in its sound and huge desire to make music that will hook you and leave you wanting more.
Jersey-based independent record label and event management company, Bubblebrain Records took an interest in the band and in March 2023 the band signed a new record deal with the company. Not resting on their laurels, the band are set to release the ‘Rotten EP’ on April 21st 2023 along with an accompanying video…what more can you ask for?
So, let’s dive in…
A punk feel to the vibe
'Rotten', the title track, opens with the hint of a Bowie-esque ‘Rebel Rebel’ riff before a thunderous bass kicks in alongside pounding driven drum pattern that’s synonymous with any THIS IS WAR! track, the bass line is edgy and gives a punk feel to the vibe, in keeping with the title perhaps. The vocal as always, is strong and emotive, and builds as the verse progresses, elements of Lydon ring out, again perhaps a reference to the title. It’s a catchy song, energetic and the guitars really shine, solos and riffs shimmer and scintillate throughout. A great opener.
The chorus is a joyous chant
'No Pressure' is anthemic, instant rock n roll, it has a real upbeat catchy vibe, driven guitars and thundering drums, it will have you up dancing in no time at all. Packed full of melodic guitar riffs and bass notes creating the backdrop for the vocal to hit us with the opening line “Look out the window, what do i see…I see the man looking back at me and it shakes me to my bones". The chorus is a joyous chant that will have live audiences bouncing. It’s a real earworm full of hooks, melodies and brilliant solo that shines. A close contender for my favourite track.
Blistering solos and a driving bass and drum groove
'Waves of Love', is quintessential THIS IS WAR!, funky bass lines, drum barrages, and a big guitars. Vocally it is immense, energetic and vibrant it builds and builds as it progresses, it’s a big sound yet its complex with a plethora of melodies and trademark hooks, blistering solos and a driving bass and drum groove that leaves you breathless.
An anthemic undertone
'Promised Land', to me is a bit of a rebel song, it has a completely different vibe to the previous tracks, it has a beautiful chiming acoustic intro, the vocal is emotive, backed with harmonies, it’s a completely different sound yet it has an anthemic undertone that hits home. The guitars make it for me, beautiful melodies ring out, it really highlights the accomplished skill these lads have both in their song writing and delivery.
Guitars are rich and full of expression which allows Paul to emphasise the emotion
Finally, we have the acoustic 'Mona Lisa', I’m told as there is no acoustic track on the 1st or 2nd album, they wanted to highlight Paul’s voice (not that it needs highlighting in my opinion) and it certainly does that as with the previous track. Mona Lisa was released back in 2022 as a full band version. This acoustic version is just beautiful, the guitar creates a melodic template for Paul’s voice to shine, its magnificent. They shimmer and glisten whilst Paul’s voice hits you with full on emotion. This is without doubt my favourite track. It is full of impact; guitars are rich and full of expression which allows Paul to emphasise the emotion within the track.
This EP is without doubt a huge leap forward for the band, it’s a showcase of their talents, it has a bit of everything, from the raw edgy punk driven tracks such as rotten to the anthemic indie rock of No Pressure. There is also the typical This is war sound with Waves of Love, something we are accustomed to. Then we see a step change, we see the gentler side with Promised Land, well I say gentler, the sound is, yet the message is just as powerful. And finally, the beautiful Mona Lisa where the acoustic guitars paint a picture whilst the vocal turns it into a masterpiece.
A showcase of their talents
This is war have taken things to another level, the production is immense, this EP is in my opinion, already one of the releases of the year…but that’s my opinion, check it out for yourself, I cannot emphasise how good this is.
You can find out more here