What is it with guitar bands from the North-West eh?
All The Young hail from Stoke and, having just been signed to Warner, are certainly a band to look out for in the coming months. The debut album is yet to be finalised, but The First Time is the current single available now.
The four-piece are fronted by Ryan Dooley - a sort of Liam Gallagher/Suggs hybrid. Their sound is typical indie-rock stuff, like many descendants of Oasis such as The Enemy or The Courteeners. There's even a touch of The Goo Goo Dolls about them. Driving guitar rhythms, anthemic choruses and catchy melodies all feature, though it lacks a really gripping guitar riff. Previous release Welcome Home is the better track. The lyrics of setting off for a brighter future ("The smoke that trenches this landscape is never far for my heart / I’m holding out for a new day, a place to start") are a little cliched, but it's definitely a punchy, anthemic record - the last minute especially evoking mosh pits brimming with eager fans.
They may not be pushing boundaries, but All The Young are a solid rock and roll band that will satiate appetites in these guitar-starved times.
3/5
