Liberation Pact-Everything's Ghost
Forming towards the end of 2009 in Nottingham, Liberation Pact blend together elements of emo-tinged soaring melody, heyday indie-rock guitar experimentalism and dashes of off-kilter prog to create a fresh and spacious sound that, as presented in the five brilliant tracks on this EP, has bucketloads of potential within it.
Elements of Taking Back Sunday, Smashing Pumpkins and The Get Up Kids can all be heard and the quartet fuse them into a sound that feels new and different. Opener 'A Stagnant Bore''s dreamy guitar-lines remind of the Pumpkins' 'Siamese Dream' while vocalist Richard Clarke's voice soars and twists in the same way as Adam Lazzara or Jeremy Enigk, his vocal patterns feeling refreshingly unconventional and allowing all five songs to hit huge heights and feel distinct alongside each other. The band channel the classic spirit of such bands while trying new things and creating huge feelings within each individual song themselves, Clarke and guitarist John Jeacock's guitar work is truly considered and intricate and really adds to every song, their vocal harmonies equally peppering the songs wonderfully. 'Pro-Chains' mixes beautiful lead lines with crushing rhythm sections, Adam Burbidge's thudding bass sounding especially powerful, particularly on final track 'Fine Facility' before a killer dual-vocal section comes in at the song's climax, an aspect of their sound that the band should definitely progress and utilise more.
Elsewhere there are hints of Jimmy Eat World's dazzling euphoria in EP highlight 'Like Kids Let Free' alongside an intoxicating Billy Corgan-meets-Ari Katz vocal performance from Clarke which, all held together by the tight drum-work of Luke Grainger, make for a feet-sweeping anthem. 'Just Social' has a slightly heavier feel that's reminiscent of Sunny Day Real Estate in its sweeping dynamics with a raw vocal that howls around the soundscape like a banshee in a storm. It's absolutely top stuff and the fact that the band are yet to release a full-length is truly striking considering the EP's quality.
This is fresh and truly exciting stuff that brings in elements of classic emo, indie-rock and grunge with the result being both bold and addictive. Very exciting things to come from these guys, check out 'Everything's Ghost' and get involved.