Anthematic British Rock with huge choruses, led by female vocals.
The Big Roar could be one of the most aptly named albums ever.
The Big Roar is the first full length album from British band The Joy Formidable. The band has been releasing music since 2008 and in 2009 played a couple of sold out shows in New York with Passion Pit when they were at their height. The Big Roar brings all of their past singles and EP’s to culmination and doesn’t let down.
“The Ever Changing Spectrum of a Lie” starts off the album with nearly a minute of ambient noise that gradually build with melody and hook laden guitars that eventually fall apart into a beautiful chaos of melody being driven by a rhythm section that gains speed down a steep hill.
For new listeners this could be a dangerous start to an album of a band you’re new to. If you’re new to TJF you’ll want to listen to “A Heavy Abacus” first. It’s built on anthematic melodies on top of what you expect of British guitars and music. These songs carry the same characteristics of British Rock in general. Loud guitars, huge choruses, drums with huge cymbal splashes. The entire album harkens back to the Britpop day’s of the mid 90’s, just like their modern day Brit-mates Biffy Clyro do.
Overall this is a solid debut album, although there are a couple of songs that are easy just to skip over. Focus more on their sound in general than anything else. They’ve brought the double bass into British Alt Rock. The Joy Formidable could easily bring back British music with balls. Where Coldplay took the gentle side, TJF have taken the gutsy amps to 11 side, but kept all of the melodic hooks. They have even been known to wreck the stage every now and again. Not exactly The Who, but showing any passion on stage these days is highly respectable.
Recommended Tracks: Austere, A Heavy Abacus, Whirring, Cradle
RIYL Tegan and Sara, Oasis, Biffy Clyro, K’s Choice, Hole, Foo Fighters
