Forgotten Roots

Crosses And Circles EP

Written by: TL on 04/05/2009 13:44:10

Imagine in your mind a blessed union between the sounds of The Gaslight Anthem and Alkaline Trio. Sounds like a wet dream come true to you? Then quickly enter this review of "Crosses And Circles EP", a record that was recently sent to me by Newcastle, UK-based punk rockers Forgotten Roots, who are currently trying to widen their fanbase by getting some promotion for this very record, which they actually released all the way back in the late summer of 2007.

I know, I know, they're kind of old news then, but given the references they've made me put in my introduction, I figured this is the kind of band punk rock fans would like to know about, recent release date or not, right? Glad you agree! Instrumentally these boys are as straightforward as can be, racing ahead on up beat drums and simple, yet delightful riffs. It's all very plain, melodic and enjoyable, and in general, all six songs on the record are very similar and as such they all sound like they could've easily come off The Gaslight Anthem's first album. Except of course they are a bit rougher, given the relatively low profile of the record, but really the sound just feels all the better for it.

On top of the instruments the band can boast of a vocalist who sounds rather like a young and untrained Brian Fallon/Matt Skiba hybrid, and while the music is enjoyable as is, it is really this guy's passionate performance of several catchy vocal melodies that drives the point home. There's no way you can really hate it when these melodies are used to charge his easy-to-relate-to-lyrics, like for example these; "I think I had too much/of alcohol/It was a price to pay/but I'd do it again". It's not exactly genius poetry but hey, we can't say we haven't all been there right?

As I've implied a few times, "Crosses And Circles EP" is a relatively simple course, but also one that will fill your stomach all the same. It's the kind of record that includes the same good song rewritten six times, preluded by your stereotypical unnecessary intro and delivered with more passion than vocal technique. The kind which will keep you tapping your feet and bopping your head for its duration, even if the memory of it might not stretch longer than to remind you that Forgotten Roots is a band to keep an eye out for in the future.

7

Download: Cut It Out, Too Much, Bats
For The Fans Of: The Gaslight Anthem, Alkaline Trio, Strung Out
Listen: myspace.com/forgottenrootsuk

Release Date: August 2007
Scattered Records

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