The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar (28/07/2011)
After the successful release of their debut EP, ‘A Balloon Called Moaning,’ Wales three-piece The Joy Formidable have released their debut album ‘The Big Roar,’ a soaring album of classy riffs and vivid vocals that impresses immensely.
Opening track The Ever Changing Spectrum Of A Lie begins with the crashing and popping of some imperceptible booms, before the increasing whirring of synths leads into the opening vocals of the track. A unique opening, Ritzy’s vocals immediately remind me of Brian of US alternative rock outfit Silversun Pickups.
Fast riffs and captivating hooks are all abound in I Don’t Want To See You Like This, one of the more rock n’ roll pop rock songs on the album, while Buoy is a grungy and distorted addition, where unfortunately some of the vocals are lost amidst the effects layered within.
I was lucky enough to catch The Joy Formidable just over a year ago when they supported The Temper Trap at Festival Hall. Many of the songs they performed in their set I quickly recognised on this release such as Whirring and Austere. While impressive live, they have also been re-recorded and ‘polished’ for the album release, and it truly shows. Exceptional and appealing, they provide some of the true highlights on this release, with Whirring being the standout track. Closing the album with a bang are Chapter 2, energetic and unrelenting in pace and style. Final track The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade is another EP addition, fading The Big Roar out in style and grace.
‘The Big Roar’ succeeds in so many places where many indie rock albums fail. Its lyrics are original, with the vocal talents of Ritzy Bryan complimenting the instrumentals and vice-versa. Intertwining, they create a memorable listening experience. Similar to Silversun Pickups in so many ways, The Joy Formidable have delivered a remarkable album that is ambitious and intimate at the right moments, one that will surely feature in this reviewers top ten of 2011.
Luke Sutton
Opening track The Ever Changing Spectrum Of A Lie begins with the crashing and popping of some imperceptible booms, before the increasing whirring of synths leads into the opening vocals of the track. A unique opening, Ritzy’s vocals immediately remind me of Brian of US alternative rock outfit Silversun Pickups.
Fast riffs and captivating hooks are all abound in I Don’t Want To See You Like This, one of the more rock n’ roll pop rock songs on the album, while Buoy is a grungy and distorted addition, where unfortunately some of the vocals are lost amidst the effects layered within.
I was lucky enough to catch The Joy Formidable just over a year ago when they supported The Temper Trap at Festival Hall. Many of the songs they performed in their set I quickly recognised on this release such as Whirring and Austere. While impressive live, they have also been re-recorded and ‘polished’ for the album release, and it truly shows. Exceptional and appealing, they provide some of the true highlights on this release, with Whirring being the standout track. Closing the album with a bang are Chapter 2, energetic and unrelenting in pace and style. Final track The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade is another EP addition, fading The Big Roar out in style and grace.
‘The Big Roar’ succeeds in so many places where many indie rock albums fail. Its lyrics are original, with the vocal talents of Ritzy Bryan complimenting the instrumentals and vice-versa. Intertwining, they create a memorable listening experience. Similar to Silversun Pickups in so many ways, The Joy Formidable have delivered a remarkable album that is ambitious and intimate at the right moments, one that will surely feature in this reviewers top ten of 2011.
Luke Sutton