This Bristolian five piece really pack a punch with their new EP ‘New Horizons’. Having already toured with bands like Attack! Attack! and Deaf Havana, this EP can be seen as a mission statement, showing a lot of quality and a shitload of potential. The songs show the sort of maturity you might expect from a band who have been in the business for decades rather than a matter of years. The EP itself has been finished to a high standard, with evidence of a very clean, crisp production. The sound may be similar to a lot of screamo, but the band still manages to carve out their own niche instead of living on the coattails of better bands that have gone before.

Opening song Four Words kicks in with heavy drums, thrashing guitars and vocals which remain prominent throughout. As an opening song it delivers an aggressive yet melodic sound, with the strong vocals of frontman Karl Ficarotta adding superbly to the atmosphere created by the whole band. With Familiar Traits the band show their alternative side, with the great addition of Joe Marsh’s screaming blended in with the lead vocals. Listening to the song you can’t help but think that it would have slotted in to one of The Blackout’s earlier albums quite nicely, the vocal exchanges between Karl and Joe definitely reminiscent of the interplay between Gavin Butler and Sean Smith. The song ends with a metal-esque breakdown that you would expect on the first couple of Lostprophets’ albums, with an electronic presence alongside the riffs and powering drums – it’s hard to believe they are actually from Bristol and not Pontypridd.

Fire Burning Through Our Wings shows how ATOTC can be quite dynamic, producing a very vocally central song in which the drums and guitars play a more diluted role, before Machine finishes the EP off nicely. Combining all of the elements from the songs coming before it, Machine has vocally dominated verses but heavier choruses, bringing back the pounding drums, the catchy riffs and the scream/clean mix of vocals.

It says a lot that the most negativity I could muster is that quite frankly, the EP is too short. It serves a platform from which the band can hopefully spring into the international circuit, but I was left wanting more. When a full length album comes it will have a lot to live up to. If they play their cards right, in years to come ATOTC could be as huge as the Dickens novel they presumably got their name from.

 

4.5 out of 5 high fives!