LONELY THE BRAVE The Hope List
Having not released much since 2016s Things Will Matter,
is this a comeback for Lonely The Brave? After working their way up
from Cambridges local secret to toast of the British rock scene,
here is a band who have well and truly earned the adoration of their
fans. Gathering a loyal following over the past decade or so of their
existence, as exciting as it is that they are now starting a new chapter
with vocalist, lyricist, engineer and producer, Jack Bennett, they
have to expect that there are going to be stark comparisons to the
singer they lost a few years back, particularly as he has just put
out some solo material that people are going mental for. Bands swap
members all the time though, right? A drummer might go unnoticed,
guitarists come and go. But a frontman? Arguably, Dave Jakes was the
alluring presence that made LTB his enigmatic performance and
heartrending vocals were integral to the bands success.
However, to move on as they have is a confident move
to be admired, which speaks volumes for their passion for making music.
Queen and Alice In Chains, to name but two, have done very well for
themselves following their frontmans departure and what the
quintet bring to the table in their most recent incarnation is exciting.
And, remember kids, this time nobody died. If anything, Lonely The
Brave sound very much alive and very much like, er, Lonely The Brave.
Phew.
Still the same melodic, slightly grungey, alternative rock that they
champion, though their overuse of the word organic when
describing their creative process has turned me off in the past, presumably
this means that the band write from their own experiences. The emotive
and determined feel of their music certainly lends itself to this
theory. Covering personal themes from the intense struggles they have
recently faced - from the off, recent single Bound sets
the bar high as an anthem straight out of the Biffy Clyro school of
songwriting. In fact, the majority of the album is gagging to be performed
in a big space, a strong drum beat and monster riffs guiding the way
for some triumphant air punching on Keeper and another
single and standout moment Distant Light already possessing
backing vocals that resemble a devoted crowd.
Pic Carla Mundy/Press
Whats more, for those worrying about said vocals, the overall
talent remains unyielding, drawing easy comparisons to Cave In on
the bigger songs. Having said that, LTB are, as always, fitting in
just the right amount of dynamic, perhaps best demonstrated in the
title tracks hypnotic and husky change of tempo. While
I lie awake now/I let the bitterness in/ This is my hope list
Bennett muses, while a moving ambience also sweeps through Your
Heavy Heart, stripped down yet bursting with relatable sentiment.
Throughout The Hope List it is clear to see that here
are five men who still believe, which is damn hard at the moment,
so with so much hope behind them that they had to make a list (arf),
those that stood by them before should definitely support them now.
Hopefully they will get to play their upcoming UK shows in April where
they will no doubt fill some smaller venues with their gigantic sound.
Anna C.
Released 22nd January 2021.
https://www.facebook.com/LonelyTheBrave/