It’s the same with most new bands. A couple of years touring on the underground scene, with brief moments of exposure; usually thanks to NME and/or Radio One is usually the way of things. If the band is any good, you build up the reputation amongst an increasingly dedicated set of loyal fans and you may have your stab at the mainstream by releasing an EP or album. So step up The Joy Formidable to have your go at the big time.
But already I have been harsh to this band. The Welsh rockers have formed a superb live reputation on the gig scene; they have their set of dedicated fans and they have some other big fans as well; they opened the Other Stage at Glastonbury 2010 and supported Sir Paul McCartney at the Millennium Stadium the day before. Not bad for an ‘up-and-coming’ band.
So it comes to the physical releases. EP ‘A Balloon Called Moaning’ was brought out in 2009 following single releases throughout 2008, but now it is debut album time; with ‘The Big Roar’ now available for public consumption. And is that burgeoning reputation damaged? Not at all. In fact, it’s now bigger than ever.
‘The Big Roar’ turns out to be a very precise name for an album full of noise, confidence and power that sees The Joy Formidable live up to their billing as one of the bands to look out for at the moment. Linkable to Arcade Fire due to the atmospheric art rock feel, ‘The Big Roar’ goes further by linking dreamy guitar pop to punk rock and grunge to create an ever-changing and constantly evolving album. And to top it off, the soaring vocals of lead singer Ritzy Brian see this record take off into the indie stratosphere.
‘The Everchanging Spectrum of Life’ sums this up perfectly; multi-layered indie bliss going from a dreamy waltz and ‘the dangers of showing any kind of weakness’ lyric to pounding rock with a wall-of-noise approach you will become accustomed to. The waves of guitars continue in building gem ‘I Don’t Want to See You Like This’ and in ‘Whirring’; which shifts from breezy pop to raucous racket with style. Already available are tracks ‘Austere’ and ‘Cradle’, both fast-paced rockers and rampant enough to draw in your typical indie fan from first listen.
The punk-rock side to ‘The Big Roar’ is what is setting The Joy Formidable apart though. ‘The Magnifying Glass’ and ‘Chapter 2’ both draw their roots from punk and grunge; thundering drums, angry guitars and fused productions. ‘Buoy’ is a haunting and heavy track lifted by Brian’s lofty voice, while ‘Llaw = Wall’ goes in the opposite direction as Rhydian Dafydd takes the role in an Editors-style explosive epic.
The album’s best moment comes in ‘A Heavy Abacus’ as all the elements combine; led by guitars and a crescendo of noise rock, atmospheric to the max and Brian on top form to see a masterful release at the chorus. ‘The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade’ caps just over 45 minutes of indie/art rock at its best. The weakest moment; the dreamy ‘Maruyama’; is only that as it is the shortest song.
‘The Big Roar’ is an exceptional effort from the Welsh three-piece; an album that awes in its constant movement and tangible power, with brilliant Ritzy Brian vocals the immediate draw. So I return to my opening statement; it’s the same with most new bands. It’s not the same with The Joy Formidable. And I get the feeling it won’t be long before they are not just a new band, but a big band as well.
A great debut album from the band that have been linked to the likes of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Manic Street Preachers and Muse, not bad ay? And here's my favourite track, 'A Heavy Abacus'.
NWR
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