I’m not usually bombarded with review files from Belgium, let alone angular post-hardcore from Belgium. In fact, Amber Daybreak are the first and only band to fall into that category. I must admit, I keep my ear to the ground, but I hadn’t heard of them before. And they are a damn good band.
They are clearly seriously musically well read – just a glance at the novelette of list of bands on their influences section of Myspace tells its own story. If I try to sum up their sound I would say it’s a cross between Bloc Party, Kids Near Water, Defeater and Karate. The production of the album does this lot a good deal of justice too. They can play.
Maybe they short of a trick or two as the record wears on, but if you’re in the right mood, this would probably scratch the proverbial itch. Have a listen to track Winter Seems Longer (yes I know it’s a cliché name, but we aren’t talking about a band whose lyrics are especially easily audible) online and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. They veer a little too much towards Thursday at times, but at others this is genuinely fresh.
Mike