Officers - On The Twelve Thrones
Officers are a band sitting just off the radar at the moment, but poised to make a name for themselves with their debut record.
On The Twelve Thrones is an album that shows a great deal of promise from the quartet, and gives them something to really build on from here.
A lot of the record may draw comparisons to Muse, that is hardly bad company to find yourself in, especially with a debut.
It's an ambitious and, at times, exciting record, and the Leeds quartet have done a fine job in creating a solid and consistent record.
Tracks like 'Co-Education' will invoke thoughts of Muse and Audioslave as Officers show their knack for a heavy riff and atmospheric, epic-sounding songs.
The electronic influence gives an added charm to vocals that, in a more straight-up band, would otherwise feel unremarkable.
Credit for the final mixing goes to Dave Bascombe (Depeche Mode) and Death In Vegas' Tim Holmes, and they deserve a lot of praise for an album that is lifted by its production.
'All The Ghosts Away' starts out as a haunting song which is actually interesting (in the most exciting sense of the word), as you wonder where it's leading you.
Unfortunately, it never really moves into second geer over its 6-minute duration, and falls a little flat by its slightly unsatisfying conclusion.
That said, songs lke 'Say It Again' and 'Disarm' are energetic and fresh enough to make up for any rare dips in quality.
Officers have started their career in fine form, with On The Twelve Thrones certainly being a solid, innovative and consistent first effort.
It gives them a great platform to work from on record number two, something we'll be eagerly awaiting.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge