Recently, Liverpudlian quartet FOES have been creating a brand new, exciting type of atmospheric rock. Their EPs ‘Ophir’ and ‘Antecedence’ were released to critical acclaim and allowed the group a place on some incredible tours, both headlining and sharing the stage along the likes of Bad Sign, Dead Letter Circus and Press to Meco. Now, with all that experience and the mighty Basick Records backing them, comes their debut album ‘The Summit Lies Skyward’.
From the opening chords to the last strains, FOES don’t disappoint. They paint huge landscapes with equally massive riffs, creating cinematic tracks like ‘The Choir Invisible’ and ‘Beautiful Fiction’. ‘Pin Feather’ displays massive vocals, whilst ‘From Stillness Came Slow Bloom’ slows the tempo down, bringing a magical and beautiful interlude before ‘Orchestrator’, which is complete with vibrant and dynamic musicianship.
The track that stands out most is closer ‘The Everest’: it simply swells and soars, complete with crashing drum work and vibrant riffs. The emotional lyrics are a comfort to those who are currently struggling in life, with lines such as “You’re going to make it through this / You’re going to make it through the night” and “Words won’t cure you but you’ll be okay.” They bring a sense of peace and solidarity to those who are battling demons, as well as holding out a hand to help them.
In ‘The Summit Lies Skyward’, FOES have created a mature debut album. It’s a bold, accomplished release that’s majestic and stunning and will see this band become a household name.
JESS TAGLIANI