Every Avenue - Bad Habits
Every Avenue will be supporting Young Guns later this month, and it should be the beginning of the band becoming a big name in the worldwide rock scene.
Kicking off with the huge 'Tie Me Down' (which was co-written by Yellowcard member Ryan Key), their third album is already one of the best rock releases of the year so far.
In a scene over-saturated with bands trying too hard to find a gimmick, Bad Habits is a straight-up rock effort, and all the better for it.
What shines through is the quality of the songs and the melodies.
Whilst remaining diverse, it boasts a consistent sound and is proof that the art of the album isn't dying if you're willing to look further than mainstream pop.
The band are by no means upcoming (they have over 150,000 fans on Facebook), but this album could really make them bigger names in the rock scene.
Ballad 'Fall Apart' is a great ballad just begging to be played in huge arenas, and the rest of Every Avenue's songs would fit just as nicely.
The production on the album also deserves a mention, as it captures the energy and excitement of a live show whilst keeping the crispness of a studio recording.
On songs like 'No One But You' the band show a classic hard rock influence with a blistering solo and an infectious chorus.
Whilst Bad Habits is, at its heart, a rock album, the diversity of the songs make it more difficult to define.
It has tender moments ('Only Place I Call Home') providing a balance to hard rock tracks ('Whatever Happened To You'), all combining to make an exciting and unpredictable album.
The only relative low point is 'Someday, Somehow', which is, unfortunately, a clichéd song about life on the road.
It's by-the-numbers in that sense, but done so well it's just begging to be a radio hit.
Every Avenue show their most tender side with 'I Can;t Not Love You', a stunningly bare piano-driven ballad that is unlike anything else on the album.
By the time the album rounds off with 'Watch The World', it leaves you wanting more without feeling too short.
Only 10 tracks long, Bad Habits avoids any obvious filler, proving itself to be a diverse but consistent record from a truly exciting band.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge