LOCK-IN are set to release their debut EP ‘On To The Next’ on January 19th. The EP was produced by Curtis Elvidge of Ritual Sounds and recorded during sessions at Premises Studio in Hackney.
Artwork courtesy of Fear PR
In the latter half of 2023, LOCK-IN released ‘Easy’ and ‘Red Stripe Remedy’. They consolidate their position as one of the UK’s indie bands poised to break through by improving their archetypal indie-dancefloor sound. The former, at times, threatens to ignite into a Two Door Cinema Club party, but such is the emotional heft that it remains in its world-weary lane. It breeds a lonely but never detached sonic, where LOCK-IN have thrived best to date. Meanwhile, on ‘Red Strip Remedy’, they toss their hat into the ring of indie anthems about escaping the 9-5. What’s different about Lock-In’s submission to the genre is its emotive poignancy. As frontman Benjy Leak sings, “Lost in the 9-5, we only work to stay alive”, it’s tinged with a forlornness not seen with songs of this ilk before. It serves as the perfect reflection of the dire times we’re struggling through. When The Enemy sang ‘We’ll Live And Die’ in these towns, Tom Clarke conjured images of people still brimming with hope despite the decay. ‘Red Stripe Remedy’, sixteen years later, demonstrates what it’s like to exist in those towns; six for a fiver being one of the only hopes left for so many.
LOCK-IN, before these two singles, were a fun band. Led in main, by frontman Benji Leak’s charisma and joyful cadence. Fun only gets you so far. Step forward, brother and lead guitarist Joe Leak. Joe’s choppy licks pull from Bloc Party’s ‘So Here We Are’ and The Wombats circa ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’ and produce images of a forlorn soul dusting themselves down for another shot at glory. On ‘Red Stripe Remedy’ Joe harsher and more jagged licks allow the “what if” Graham Coxon joined Two Door Cinema Club to develop joyfully. His joyous guitar solo on the title track culminates this newfound confidence and intensity.
Whilst so many bands proclaim to be rock ‘n’ roll, they lose sight of its spirit whilst searching for that ‘Live Forever’ moment to change their lives. On the title track and ‘He Said She Said’, LOCK-IN rapturously live in the moment and, thus, lifts souls out of theirs. Nothing is more rock ‘n’ roll than that. ‘He Said She Said’ opens another avenue the band have yet to show. It has the feel of an OK album track that fans lust after as much as the singles (‘Slide Away’, ‘A New Decade’). Fiercely striving towards colossal status, the band has tapped into a power that will set crowds ablaze alongside the lighter indie-dancefloor moments.
Their biggest headline show at London’s Lafayette is shaping to be a launch-off into much bigger things on this showing.
Click the image below for tickets to their headline Lafayette show:
