There’s nothing particularly wrong with Stoke’s The River Card (not to be confused with The Riverclub) – the band’s hardcore stylings are pretty well done, the breakdowns are heavy and hard-hitting and some of the riffs are pretty meaty. But it’s all been done before – and better – hence why this scores just 3/5. Formed by ex-members of Blowback, Centrifuge and Blast Stereos Loud the band have already shared a stage with the likes of Set Your Goals and Parkway Drive and there is a little bit of both in The River Card‘s sound – the metallic tinge during ‘I Want A Pink Piano Like Elton John’ is quite similar to the latter. But ultimately this just meanders through seven songs and while flirting around ‘good’ status, doesn’t quite make it any further.
