4/5 Virgin Media “With their thundering guitars, seismic riffs and alternately honeyed and serrated female vocals, The Joy Formidable may just have made the best heavy-duty art-rock debut album since The Dead Weather….. Having bided their time, The Joy Formidable might just prove to be one of the bands of 2011.”

8/10 ClashMusic “The goods have indeed been produced…. “The band’s trademark remains a powerful wall of sound. Bolt on an undeniably zealous execution, a set of simple yet well-written songs, add an element of confident adventure via some experimentation and diversity and the rebirth of indie may just have found its leading protagonists.”

9 /10 Subba Cultcha “a contender for album of the year.”

8/10 Stereoboard “What the Joy Formidable have brought to offer on ‘The Big Roar’ is a beguiling shoegazing sound for the current decade”

4.5/5 GIITTV “immense indie-pop anthems….. ‘the album of 2011’ has little meaning so early on [in the year], but I am confident this will still be the case in 12 months time. The Big Roar should be the start of an even bigger future.”

8/10 Bring The Noise “The whole album is near faultless and The Joy Formidable are set to go far if they keep up this perfect blend of indie pop with an edge.”

9/10 Rocksound “Full of surprises TJF cover a huge spectrum of sounds, giving a lesson in how to make quality music.”

It’s All Happening “Somehow simultaneously reflective and acutely boisterousness, the layered tangents that flow and fold throughout The Big Roar show the band’s expansive talent. If you’re new to The Joy Formidable, you’re so lucky. Be prepared to be swept away. Wow.”

7/10 The Music Fix “The Joy Formidable are an investment, an undertaking borne of love. For those of us who really, properly care, the long haul never looked so bright and The Big Roar is a bracing start.”

Buzzin Music “The Big Roar is confident, classy, exhilarating and simply a quite brilliant debut album from The Joy Formidable, turn it up loud and enjoy.”

Entertainment Focus “This album shows how far this band has come and the enormous potential they hold.”

4/5 The Beat Surrender “I see why people love this band and I definitely understand the hype.” “If you like your music a bit ballsy, yet accessible, then this three piece are the answer.”

Muso’s Guide "The Big Roar has been worth the wait… a convincing blend of proper arse-kicking rock and something which is enriching and engaging. It’s a really strong debut album which shows room to grow, and give us good cause to be excited about what the future holds for The Joy Formidable."

4/5 The Skinny "Gently infectious and overwhelmingly dreamy, The Joy Formidable's debut full-length The Big Roar marks itself out as the soundtrack du jour for rock 'n' roll escapists."

Tagged in