Fireapple Red are without doubt one of the most underrated UK bands on the circuit right now. Despite picking themselves up some handy management, which saw a turn at the Reading/Leeds festivals last year and a handful of nifty support slots, the band haven’t had the big break their talent deserves. Signing to Visible Noise, who themselves have managed to break the shackles a as a label this year, could possibly give the band the leg up they need to make it to the next level. After all, on the basis of the material we’ve heard from FAR so far, that leap is inevitable.
‘The First Drop’ is an odd little EP, featuring just six songs, of which three are live recordings. The CD is enhanced with lots of extras, so it’s not a dead loss, but it does smack of a release to tide things over before the next album inevitably blows everyone away. If you’re new to the band, this British mob strike me as mixing the best bits of bands like Thrice and Strike Anywhere, yet maintaining their British-ness. It’s so easy to get lost in a sea of Americanisms with this type of music, yet Fireapple Red manage to blow any cliches out of the water. Literally. With a number of bellows and screams, the band churn out riff after riff. It’s just a pity there are only three studio recordings here to be honest, and that’s what restricts this mark. There’s no way I think the band are worthy of just 7/10 – this is a score simply for the release. ‘Our Addiction’ and the EP’s title track hint at big, big things to come – my guess is that Fireapple Red won’t remain off the radar for very much longer.
www.fireapplered.com
Visible Noise
Paul