As they list some of their influences as Biffy Clyro and Four Year Strong, two incredible but vastly different bands, you may approach listening to Cheltenham trio I, The Lion warily but it will result in a decision well made when you get a load of their brand new EP, Run. The post-punk outfit, who have had played some great shows including 2000 Trees Festival, give it their all, breaking genre barriers in the four songs that have been chosen for this EP.
The first track ‘Hold Strong‘ offers not only powerful vocals, but some of the most captivating instrumentals too – the guitar riffs that round off the song are remarkable and the rather refined performance all round is impressive for a band so young. Having recorded with Jason Wilson, the man behind some of You Me At Six and Fighstar‘s material, this trio have been given the best kind of leg-up in making this EP legendary.
Following on is ‘Icarus‘, a ballad-like tune that mentions the story of the Icarus who flew to close to the sun and melted his wax wings – showing off I, The Lion’s knack for creative songwriting. ‘Man Made Of Mice‘ may sound oddly titled, but yet again the band deliver nothing short of brilliance in terms of both songwriting and musical performance.
To round off everything in a perfect little package, ‘Bonny Island‘ is the fourth and final track that dominates with a killer opening that is reminiscent of another of I, The Lion’s influences, At The Drive In. With that being said, the band have created their own unique sound using various styles and it’s something that, spectacularly, manages to work to their advantage.
Run is certainly an indication of I, The Lion’s can-do, hard working attitude as a band, and they’re sure to have a very prosperous 2015 ahead of them if they carry on in that fashion.
