Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
For their legions of Brave Rival fans, the departure of joint lead singer Chloe Josephine late last year was a worrying time as many questioned what would happen moving forward, the chemistry between the quintet being so special. With years of constant touring under their belts since forming in 2019, the band was more like a family than a bunch of musicians and the unbreakable bond meant that they were able to pick themselves up, shake the dust off and come back hungrier than ever.
Having played all this year as a four-piece, the magic was still very much there as anyone who’s witnessed them on tour will testify, but this was a leaner and meaner version of the band. With the ever-impressive engine room of Donna Peters and Billy Dedman providing the rhythmic thunder, six stringer Ed Clarke continues to grow as a real guitar hero, his playing never less than electrifying. Arguably the biggest thrill though is seeing Lindsey Bonnick step up and really owning the stage as she now fronts the band on her own, her presence and voice shining in this next chapter of the band’s growth.
Whilst fans have quickly adjusted to the band slimming to a quartet, embracing them with warmth, the release of new material was always going to be a litmus test, having built their reputation with such a distinctive sound. Happily, it can be reported loud and clear that this first track from their forthcoming EP is an absolute monster, toughening up their style yet never losing the soul of what made them so special in the first place.
With an overall feel of Heart at their most feral, ‘Poison’ opens with a big guitar riff from Clarke and the huge groove of the drum and bass before Bonnick channels her inner Ann Wilson as it reaches the ridiculously hooky chorus. Walking a tightrope between 70’s rock and modern production, the whole has a delicious tension and its driving gang vocals are built for arenas of screaming fans shouting out its punchy ‘hey’. The brief but perfectly formed solo adds extra edge and if you’re not stirred up to dance and sing by the midpoint it may be time to check your pulse.
With this and another brace of new tracks being unveiled live on tour recently, this next phase of the band’s story promises just as much heart as ever before but with an extra amount of volume and heaviness. Brave Rival have always been contenders for the big leagues and ‘Poison’ is another huge step forward towards headlining some of the biggest stages out there. See them fly.
Pre Orders will go live late in August. Sign up to the mailing list to be the first to know when and access an exclusive sneak peak of another new song.
https://braverival.com/subscribe/
A launch gig for the EP is set to take place at the legendary 100 Club in London on 15th October 2025, followed by a UK tour.
Tickets Open now via https://wegottickets.com/event/659374
‘Poison’ is OUT NOW on all digital platforms https://hypeddit.com/braverival/poison
