Having originally met in Spain, but now firmly based in Surrey, Aurora are for boys and one girl who like to create swirling, atmospheric post-hardcore sounds that chop and change in interesting ways. Usually I’d say I was far from enamoured with this kind of music, but with the addition of female vocals Aurora do better than most of the bands who play music of this ilk. ‘Six Songs’ – so named because, amazingly, this EP has six songs on it – is pretty good. It doesn’t stray from a set formula mind, and at times I think some of these songs would benefit if the guitars went at it a bit more, or the vocals stretched themselves a little.
‘Six Songs’ actually gets better as it goes on. The first couple of songs are good, but hardly world-beaters, but it’s the final three which, for me, show how talented the band are. The final song especially has catchy melodies and riffs aplenty, with the guitars powerfully building over a near six-minute backdrop of intracite guitar parts and tempestuous drums. I would like to hera more of the female vocals because I believe Aurora are at their best when they trade the dual vocal harmonies, but for a DIY recording and release this isn’t half bad.
www.aurorasounds.com
paul