As Paul said in a recent review, post hardcore 'screamo' acts are currently saturating an already jam packed market, and it certainly takes something special for unsigned acts to break through. Of course if you live in America, and have childish good looks, simply knock on Drive Thru's door and you're halfway to appearing on TRL, but here in humble blighty, it is not quite so simple. So it was rather surprising when after my first listen to this five piece’s maiden demo that not only are they unsigned, but they have created four songs which literally scream to labels, come get us.
Hailing from Oxford, the band are approaching their first anniversary as a group and have created a demo which is brimming with clever and experimental song arrangement with well produced lyrics, yet the problem lies in a band they probably wish to aspire to. Yes, they sound exactly like Finch. In it's own right this is nothing bad, of course Finch are a spanking band, but Days of Grace simply sound a little too similar to their stateside counterparts.
The short journey starts as it means to go on with 'Dream like Saul' with the typical chunting guitars opening before a mellow verse with quite sublime vocals from the bands silky voiced frontman. The chorus is post-hardcore by numbers though with moments of angst followed by melodic interludes, which in their defence do work very well, and they just about pull it off. 'Kineto' is much in the same vein, but with a more consistent feel of energy running throughout the song. 'Solaris' is thankfully not an ode to the shabby Clooney flick, but another solid effort with more creative and experimentive elements thrown in to create another dependable track. 'Reflect' opens with piercing screams and yet more silky and melodic instrumental turns and is without a doubt the best of the four tracks on show, and it seals a fine package.
I may have laid down some harsh words on the band in my opening gambit, but the truth is, they do owe a lot to some of our American counterparts. But truth be told, they seem to have took the best sections of their favourite bands music and inserted into their own with amazing proximity. If I’m honest, I don't think I have heard such an amazing demo for a long time. It is criminal that such a band remain unsigned, but hopefully someone somewhere will get a hold of this demo and sign them up. They deserve it.
Jay
www.daysofgrace.co.uk
