Lonely The Brave had an unbelievably successful 2013; the band held an opening slot for Deftones in Paris, played a set at Reading and Leeds festival as well as having made a crucial signing to Hassle Records. It seems only natural, therefore, that high expectations surrounded their album ‘The Day’s War’. With four years in the making, it’s safe to say the Cambridge five piece have delivered an album of quality and ultimate cohesion, making for easy listening.

With powerful singles like ‘Trick Of The Light’ and ‘Backroads’ making an obvious appearance, it’s clear to see the direction Lonely The Brave want to take this album. Intense, wispy vocals courtesy of David Jakes and rock melodies you can’t help but sing along to (who needs lyrics anyway?!), the Cambridge boys have created an image and niche that’s packed with potential and theirs for the taking.

‘Trick Of The Light’ is riff-laden indie rock, with a haunting vocal centre, making it the best track on the album. Complete with a chorus that’s bound to get everyone singing along with their hands in the air, this catchy track fits well on mainstream airwaves whilst maintaining that pureness and edge that makes for a ‘Lonely The Brave-esque’ sound. However, we must warn listeners that they are guaranteed to be left with “It’s all just a trick of the light, all just a trick of the light” echoing in their heads on loop for a few hours afterwards!

Whilst tracks like ‘ Black Saucers’ and ‘Islands’ feed off choruses packed with adrenalin, fist pumps and that rebellious rock desperation, Lonely The Brave have still incorporated softer, steadier sounds full of sincerity such as ‘The Blue, The Green’. The band have even said that this track may just define what Lonely The Brave are all about. It’s with this in mind that the hunger and honesty in David Jakes’ gruff vocals become all the more apparent as he passionately cries what many will feel is the band’s ‘coming of age’ anthem. As Jakes earnestly yells,  “I wanna feel it, just so I can know what it’s like” we can’t help but wonder if maybe Lonely The Brave are finally getting a taste of their dreams and just maybe are actually beginning to “know what it’s like”.

Inevitably, coming from an indie rock background and with vocals that husky and pure, comparisons are bound to be made (the most likely one being to Biffy Clyro), yet Lonely The Brave do not come across as wannabe, amateur rockers in the slightest. ‘The Day’s War’ is a credible album packed with raw emotion, humility and truth…oh yeah and a lot of guitar riffs. It’s definitely worth a listen.

Jess Readett