10

Living up to the hype

ATTENTION KIDS!

Here's another bunch of Brit rockers the print media are falling over themselves to find different and unique ways to say how much they love them. It seems even that bible of rock reviews the Daily Star have joined the queue!

'Meet Me at My Funeral' is the latest single to come from the highly rated debut from Brigade called 'Lights'. It's lyrics have been inspired by a book called 'Bodies', about a junior doctor as he sets out on the road to mental breakdown, so on paper a tough listen you might think.

In fact, although this is far from life changing, 'Meet Me at My Funeral' is a great blast of rift heavy, high-energy power rock. If you like acts such as label mates Funeral For A Friend, as well as Hundred Reasons and Biffi Clyro then Brigade are a band you should check out.

This track takes several aspects of rock, which many would simply leave for individual songs, and puts them together to create something which after a couple of listens is likely to be stuck in your head. Whether it's the blistering guitars which greet you from the start, the simple but effective chorus hook which nearly steps over the line of shouting for the sake of it, luckily the balance is about right, or maybe the lighter in the air potential twist there's something for most tastes.

Just as you think they're launching into an eighties style guitar solo the pace and intensity drops several levels, as the track descends to the level of rock ballad: it seems every rock act needs one these days and Brigade have decided to shoehorn their's into this track.

It quickly returns to its original pace and reaches a climax with leaves a satisfied if not blown away feeling.

I'll reserve judgment as to whether I want to join the back of the excitable journalists queue until I've heard more and seen them live. On this evidence they're not exceptional but do know how to write a damn fine track.