Review by Paul Sabin for MPM
Portsmouth based, Brave Rival have come a long way since they started in 2019. Their debut album, `Life’s Machine’ received rave reviews and attracted the attention of Joe Bonamassa who loved their music.
Since then, the band have been touring hard, appearing at the 100 Club and numerous festivals as well as gigs in their own right whilst also running a crowdfunding campaign to get their follow up album recorded. The fans rallied round, and the result is `Fight Or Flight’.
Ed `The Shred’ Clarke kicks off the first track with a percussive southern rock riff on `Bad Choices’. Vocalists, Lindsey Bonnick and Chloe Josephine do what they do best a blend their vocal talents as they punch out the chorus on this rousing number. `Seventeen’ has a distinctly Seventies feel as Clarke’s infectious riff powers through and Bonnick and Josephine manage to smash out this vocal delivery whilst still being sweet as honey.
`Stand Up’ featuring Will Wilde on harmonica is an out blues rocker that sees some superb Wah infused soloing from Clarke. This anthemic track is a sure fire winner! `Insane’ cools things down a little with a cleaner guitar part mixing with haunting vocals that ebb and flow, soaring mightily over this track. The intricate melodies and power of this track conjure up thoughts of Led Zeppelin especially at its climax which gives `Stairway To Heaven’ a run for its money.
A crystalline reverb filled guitar fleshes out `Fairytale’ before distortion kicks in and controls are set to ten. Massive choruses and stellar fretboard work make this a real earworm that is destined to become a classic. `Heavy’ merges meaty guitar sounds with orchestral strings to make a thick tapestry of sound that lays the foundations for Bonnick to sing this amazing ballad.
Things get stripped back to basics on `All I Can Think About’ with acoustic guitar, grand piano and soulful vocals taking centre stage. Midway through the song the Donna Peters drums kick in and Clarke releases another stunning guitar solo which is the icing on the cake. `Five Years On’ is the albums lead single and celebrates the bands fifth anniversary. This Country/Blues rocker is quite simply outstanding on every level.
`Unravelling’ takes no prisoners as Hammond organ, thunderous drums and huge chords merge together to build a kicking 80’s tinged rock track that the Wilson sisters could so easily have written. `Sink Or Swim’ see Clarke releasing crisp echo fuelled guitars whilst Bonnick and Josephine pull out the stops, harmonising brilliantly as they deliver an intense vocal that shows how amazingly tight this band is.
`Blame The Voices’ is a song of epic proportions. Strings, screaming guitars, thundering drums and an electric vocal delivery make this a massive track that has a James Bond Title track feel to it. Final track, `Stars Upon My Scars’ is a slow blues rock ballad that depicts bad relationships. A real Gary Moore flavour is in evidence here as an enthusiastic blues solo rips through the song and equally heartfelt vocals push the message home.
Brave Rival have matured since their debut album and are now a force to be reckoned with. I don’t know of another band able to deliver Blues Rock with the passion, intensity and love that these guys do. Lindey Bonnick and Chloe Josephine create magic when they sing together. Quite literally a hair of the back of your neck moment when they harmonise.
This band will continue to rise and achieve greater things. Catch them on tour and see for yourself what an amazing band this is!!!
FIGHT OR FLIGHT TRACK LISTING
1.Bad Choices
2.Seventeen
3.Stand up
4.Insane
5.Fairytale
6.Heavy
7.All I Can Think About
8.Five years on
9.Unravelling
10.Sink Or Swim
11.Blame The Voices
12.Stars Upon My Scars
Tickets for Dingwalls available HERE
Website: https://braverival.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/braverivalband
Instagram: https://instagram.com/braverivalband
X: https://x.com/braverivalband
