As the EP title suggests, Brave Rival are now a four piece, with Lindsey Bonnick taking the sole vocal lead role. What it has done is focused the sound of the band. While they were a very fine band with two lead vocalists, there were times when the combination of Lindsey and Chloe Josephine was almost too much. I also felt that the band were not truly focused on one sound and with Lindsey in the front, this is tidier. The sound of the band now feels heavier, more fully rock orientated, and really shows the talents of all the four members.
The engine room of Donna Peters on drums and bassist Billy Danger Dedman is awesome, huge power and Billy’s riffs are so strong. Ed ‘the Shred’ Clarke on guitar is wild, shredding and soloing with wild aplomb and all held together by Lindsey Bonnick’s wailing and creening vocals – when she drops down to a softer tone her voice is quite gorgeous but sometimes she is almost threatening.
The four tracks are a great representation of where they are at. ‘Let Me Rock N Roll’ kicks it off with a massive number, a wall of sound behind Lindsey’s vocals, no quarter asked or given.
Closer ‘Wild Child’ features a huge drum sound from Donna and a tight riff with a supremely danceable heavy rock groove to the whole thing.
The other three tracks ‘Poison’, ‘Control’ and ‘Try Again’ are equally strong – there just isn’t any weakness here.
Brave Rival have received award after award and I don’t see that changing anytime now – great band and a terrific EP.
