Wigans own The Lilacs release their latest EP, ‘The 395 (To Forveer), and continue their run of blisteringly hot, anthemic releases. 

Opening up the release is, “Where You Been Hiding?” which effortlessly sets the tone, with a guitar riff that harkens back to the indie scene of the mid-00’s and bands like The Courteeners and Arctic Monkeys. The lyrics and vocal delivery matches this, with a truly anthemic quality that makes them designed to be belted out either in a jam-packed gig or on the sticky dancefloors of 42’s.

As, ‘Calling It A Night’ kicks into life the guitar riff kicks into it’s jangly brilliance, harkening back to the sounds of the North West’s past. The lyrics are almost too relatable, talking of local nights out in your hometown and having, “your bensons in one hand, your heels in the other’. It’s a moment in our lives we can all relate to and it’s dripping in nostalgia.

The titular, ‘The 395 (To Forever)’ is fantastically anthemic, with it’s sharp and stabbing guitar riffs. It harkens back to a similar time in the indie scene, that is where the band’s true excellence lies. They’re not trying to change the world or blend together 12 different genres. But what they are doing, and excelling in, is creating music that is universal and uplifting. You can stick your Brit School up your arse.

Closing out the EP are, ‘You’re Not That Daft’ and, ‘One For The Road’, with the former perhaps being the biggest example of a band wearing their local pride on their sleeve. It’s real and it’s refreshing.

‘One For The Road’, however, is the most perfect way this EP could’ve ended. It felt like a good night in your local pub that’s now drawn to a close, with the vocal delivery being nothing short of triumphant. The guitars too are nostalgic and warm, it makes you feel as if you’ve discovered ‘St Jude’ for the first time again.

‘The 395 (To Forever)’ is one of the most energetic, nostalgic and life affirming releases you’re likely to hear this year. It revels in it’s hometown authenticity, celebrating the sticky dancefloors and pub tap rooms that somehow still linger of cigarette smoke. It’s honest and it’s real, something that is hugely lacking in the indie scene of the day. So this summer crack a tinnie, light a ciggy and crank this EP up.