THIS IS WAR – Pray

Liverpool’s THIS IS WAR return with their new single ‘Pray’ via Bubblebrain Records. The Verve’s Si Jones was produced again with Andy Fernihough mixing and mastering. ‘Pray’ is released on Friday 18th August.

There’s a great sense of journey to ‘Pray’. The youthful adventure of The Jam and Razorlight’s debut are given a more mature makeover. Despite the more measured contentment of Jonny Roberts and Mike Mullard’s guitars, they’re still besieged with ambition to rival any teenage exuberance.

Although sonically always moving forwards, lyrically, ‘Pray’ is beset with great trepidation. Singer-songwriter Paul Carden’s delivery has gone to a place now that marks him out as one of the UK’s finest. The sense of fear juxtaposed with a sense of loyalty and duty he purveys are mesmeric.

THIS IS WAR are on the road to their debut album now, and ‘Pray’ has us drooling with anticipation.

This Is War - Weekend

Liverpool’s This Is War set out in January to release a single each month in 2022. The final instalment comes in the form of ‘Weekend’. Have they saved the best to last?

Frontman Paul Carden has had an innate ability to develop a febrile atmosphere across the singles this year. He demands your instant attention and can often plummet the soul into the gutter but, it’s always a great place to reside.

Like the ‘Crossfire Fever’ before it, ‘Weekend’ builds to a crescendo of great but brief guitar solos. In the early stages, the riffs take Interpol out for a bravado fuelled night out in the UK. The climatic guitars are a different animal, however. Lead by Carden’s growl, they take the early hiss of Stereophonics out to play with U2’s euphoria.

In many ways, This Is War have been ground-breaking in 2022. Freeing themselves from the usual promo format, they built hype each month with remarkably consistent tracks. All of which, have their own claim to be an old-fashioned radio-friendly single.

This Is War – Crossfire Fever

Liverpool’s This IS War have been releasing a single monthly this year. November’s offering was ‘Crossfire Fever’ and once more, doesn’t disappoint.

Artwork courtesy of the band.

All year This Is War have delivered killer rock music that flirts with its influences but never overindulges. ‘Crossfire Fever’ is perhaps the best exponent of this methodology. There are euphoric melodic moments akin to the Stereophonics, and intense guitars of The Jam but, it is the warped riff and their destructive playing that you’re left wanting to shout about.

The band’s sense of impending mortality is their heaven-sent talent. Frontman Paul Carden does desperate gravel vocals better than anyone at present. He leaves you feeling out of control, as though life is ebbing away amid frenzied chaos.

Mike Mullard and Johnny Roberts’ guitars emerge from the furious sweat ridden 00s scene of Dogs, The Paddingtons, and Nine Black Alps to produce a new kind of glory. Never in their shadows, they light up the guttural and visceral power they possessed and drive it home to new creative pastures for a new generation to put faith in.

This Is War have one more single to be released on 23rd December before they release all their singles in the new year. It’s been one hell of a joyride so far, we’re sure the last song is not to be missed either.  

This Is War – I Don’t get It

Image & artwork courtesy of the band.

Liverpool’s This is War are back with their new single ‘I Don’t Get It’. It follows their blistering ‘Pyramids’ and ode to Dylan ‘Exile Pet’.

This Is War have proven they can produce all sorts of tracks this year. It is though, in attack mode that they come alive. Launching into jagged riffs from The Jam and The Clash set the tone for what becomes a fine homage to 00s post-punk.

Vocally, Paul Carden brings the lo-fi power of The Strokes’ ‘Take It Or Leave’ to the fore before imparting great melody with his Rod-esque gravel in the closing stages.

The excitement of The Strokes’ ‘Is This It’ is never far away from this anthem but they don’t stop there. It joyfully explores many of the bands that The Strokes helped launch post-2001. The angular licks have the art school power of Franz Ferdinand and The Departure and the punk of The Rakes cult classic ‘Retreat’. This spirit combines with the ragged glory Kings of Leon debut as if they were played by the Jarman brothers circa ‘New Fellas’ and ‘Mens Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever’.

It’s a thrill ride to the credible bands that plugged the heartache of The Libertine’s demise in the mid-00s to lift the scene back to dizzy heights. Carden’s former band The Black Velvets were criminally overlooked during this period; thus, this song has a cathartic justice to pulsing through it for fans of him then and now.

Make no mistakes though, this is not rehashed nostalgia. This Is War have yet again recorded something vital that feels as live as it can possibly be in the studio.

THIS IS WAR – Pyramids

Liverpool five-piece This Is War continued their run of a single a month in September with ‘Pyramids’. It follows their fine ode to Bob Dylan, 'Exile Poet’.

Even in the band’s quieter moments this year, there has been an immediacy to their music. However, this is the most direct yet and it results in their finest guitar work to date! Frontman Paul Carden snarls “here we are. Here go” like a statement of intent. Less so as courteous information, but more as a condemnation of everything you know. They were coming and they will destroy!

Mike Mullard and Johnny Roberts guitars tap into early BRMC, 00s cult heroes Dogs and Carden’s former outfit Black Velvets on this dirge-laden classic. Leather-clad filthy licks from the gutter bellow out before the garage solo melts cynicism with its fury.

It’s been one hell of a year for the band, and this has been its peak to date. Check back next week to see if their new single ‘I Don’t Get It’.

*Artwork courtesy of Donnie Grant

This Is War – Exile Poet

Liverpool’s This Is War are releasing a single a month in 2022. Their seventh of the year is ‘Exile Poet’, their tribute to Bob Dylan.

Former Black Velvets frontman Paul Carden has been showcasing an array of influences through the singles run. From Rod Stewart to Jim Morrison to Tom Meighan. This time out, he takes his punk-soul spirit to the precipice of Dylan’s iconic drawl. The shorter breathier cadence illicit joyous images of the 00s indie-punk scene jamming Dylan songs.

The guitars in the closing minutes light up this ode to Dylan. Johnny Roberts and Mike Mullard’s escapist Rifles-esque licks collide with killer basslines worthy of Maximo Park and The Enemy at their peak.

‘Exile Poet’ is at its best when their own archetypal sound roars. The destructive drumming of Martyn Leah and the desperation Carden’s vocals could set fire to an ocean. They bleed passion, cut them and you’ll see Iggy tattooed on their spleen!  

Roll on next month’s instalment.

This Is War – E.T.A

June has struck which means, another new single from Liverpool’s This Is War. As the band embarks on a single every month, they serve up ‘E.T.A’ this month.

This time out, they embrace their funky mod souls and fire out Steve Craddock licks alongside their natural raw power. Craddock’s work with Weller on the underrated classic ‘Heavy Soul’ and the more recent ‘Wake Up The Nation’ come out to play with the effortless cool of Jonathan Richman.

Their previous singles have tended to see one member or certain sections of the band step up for their moment in the sun. Here, a togetherness builds on record to match their live spirit. The layers of guitar parts feed in and around the great bass hooks. Paul Carden’s vocals turn full power on but, only fleetingly to allow the mod beats to reset and begin their infectious shuffle once again.

This Is War is firm proof it’s about the journey, not the destination. 2022 is a year of release experimentation. It’s a roll of the dice that is proving more than fruitful for them. ‘E.T.A’ serves up new textures and a depth not yet seen from them. There’s so much here to admire it is a certainty you will return for more.

This is War – Mona Lisa

Liverpool’s This Is War are embarking on a single release a month in 2022. Their 4th instalment released in April was ‘Mona Lisa’.

Like all three previous singles, their rhythm section is on point. Grooving like The Beatles circa ‘Rubber Soul’ with the fierceness of Dr. Feelgood. The beat and mod instincts infiltrate the licks and bass hooks to make this 2022’s coolest record of the year. While everything is sounding slick, frontman Paul Carden finds a soulful rage, almost despair to launch his powerhouse vocals. It takes the record from cool to vital!

It is though, the solo where the true greatness of this record resides. It’s a glorious update on the ‘Taxman’ and ‘Pretty Green’ style/ In fact, the one thing it misses are those exact reference points. It’s as though Mick Jones wanted to rewrite the guitar parts of both songs in his indomitable style. 

This Is War have, so far produced 5 fine singles. They seem to be able to turn their hand to all eras of counterculture and find a new take on them. Here’s to the next 6 singles!

This Is War – Ecstasy

Liverpool’s This Is War are back again with their new single ‘Ecstasy’, which follows the Clash-inspired ‘Nightclub’ from last month. Can they keep their fine run going?

Bewitching vocals at times, drawing from Jim Morrison whilst drummer Martyn Leah smashes on through to the other side with his ferocious and apocalyptic drumming.

Through Andy Williams’ bass, a throttling sense of entrapment clouds the mind. Holding you in a state of purgatory until frontman Paul Carden and guitarist Johnny Roberts relieve the pressure. Carden turn’s on the soul power in the closing moments with nods to Tom Meighan on ‘Fire’ and Roberts’ guitars are the touch paper to something far bigger than their means.

Their last four songs have all offered something different, all something irrepressible. There is a growing sense that, their upcoming album could pull together something far-reaching but with chest-beating power.

This Is War - Nightclub

Liverpool’s This Is War returned yesterday with their new single ‘Nightclub. It follows last year’s anthems ‘Autumn Savage Rose’ and ‘Sugar’. Can it match their standard?

In a similar vein to ‘Autumn Savage Rose’, it’s in your face from the off without being particularly explosive. The riff has The Clash’s ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’s stop-start style which, is taken for a walk on the wild side by bassist Andy Williams. His bassline takes the sexed-up disco-punk of The Slits ‘Heard It Through The Grapevine’ to the edge of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s power.

Frontman Paul Carden steps back from the bombast of the previous two singles to deliver a great Rod circa The Faces vocal for the most part. Carden moves from Rod to the beguiling psyche howl of Jim Morrison which allows for Roberts’ remarkable solo. Roberts finds a way to make Cream sound like a post-punk band.

Everything about this record screams danger. The kind tentative souls yearn for. The ilk of which, once you’re sucked in, you’re never leaving!