Ever since Radio 1 boss George Ergatoudis claimed that guitar
music would make a return in 2013, the station have been playlisting rock bands
left right and centre. Daniel P Carter
was given a prime spot during the January New Music Takeover. And Zane Lowe’s Future Festival was
predominantly guitar-based, though admittedly his evening show often has this
focus. But does the public really want
more rock music? Or is the station
attempting to dictate our tastes? Are
they just searching for a Lost Prophets replacement ever since singer Ian
Watkins was accused of child abuse?
Enter Mallory Knox, the latest band to be championed by the
station and who performed at the aforementioned Future Festival. ‘Signals’ is the Peterborough band’s debut
album, featuring current single Lighthouse. The band are signed to A Wolf At Your
Door Records, amongst a plethora of other similar rock acts. Indeed, this label are responsible for some
of the biggest UK bands of the moment – something that Radio 1 are clearly
tapping into. Mallory Knox may not have
been around for too long, but they’re kicking up a storm.
The sound of We Are The Ocean is stadium-sized, but it’s the
drumming that’s most noteworthy. There’s
powerful drive here, owing to the switching up of drum patterns to provide
rhythmic force. Frontman Mikey Chapman’s
voice straddles the line between singing and roaring. It’s a melodic vocal that is capable of truly
soaring when necessary, alongside pop guitar riffs (the opening of Wake Up for example). Lower Than Atlantis’ songwriting is mostly
well done – confident and catchy, with memorable choruses stridently performed.
As a whole, then, You Me At Six have a
sound that’s powerful but accessible; likely to whip fans into a frenzy at live
gigs, but equally radio-friendly.
It’s not all thrashing around though. Twin Atlantic have included some slower,
gentler moments on ‘Signals’. 1949 is acoustic-focused, with a nicely
reverbed lead guitar and soft vocals; whilst Bury Your Head incorporates a rare use of piano and glockenspiel to
accompany the yearning vocal. It’s a
brief moment of respite before Kids In Glass Houses plunge us into the title
track and a return to punchy power chords and urgent drumming.
The result is far from a bad album. But are Mallory Knox original? Far from it.
There may be a slight lack of guitar bands on the radio, but perhaps
that’s because they’re all so indistinct, so staid?
The charts might be flooded with identikit dance-RnB electronic pop (David
Guetta and Calvin Harris I’m looking at you), but are these identikit
bands any better just because they’re playing ‘live’ instruments? Perhaps what Radio 1 needs more of is not
generic ‘guitar music’ but a flare of originality.
3/5
Gizzle’s Choice:
* Lighthouse
* Wake Up
* Hello
Listen: ‘Signals’ is available now.
Watch: Mallory Knox will be supporting Bedford-based band Don
Broco on their UK tour in February.