Best Friends Our Worst Enemies,
RoydenI guess I am becoming overly cynical in my old age, but this record is really, really boring. For a label that has brought us the likes of Avenged Sevenfold, Thrice and Common Rider, among many others, Royden are just far too safe for my liking. I listened to this five-tracker for the first time and got bored within three songs. It's just so painfully predictable and safe that it's worrying that a label known to take risks and break boundaries (Atom and his Package anyone?) would want to sign a band that sound like a watered-down June.
There's nothing inherently bad about 'Best Friends Our Worst Enemies', it's just boring. It's been done before, except in many cases it's been done better. The tracks plod along at mid-tempo without the catchy chrouses of many of their contemporaries. I hate using the phrase 'cash-in', but Royden have a popular sound that has sold records and I'm guessing this will ultimately follow suit. But it's just so dull. There's nothing even vaguely interesting about 'Murder Of An Albatross', while the chrous of 'Ghost House 1922' is probably the only one with a medium-sized hook. If you're a fan of the emo sound without the screaming check Royden out, but don't expect to find your new favourite band.
www.roydenstork.com
Hopeless Records
paul
