A killer start to 2015
Review by Jason Guest
Release date: 12 January 2015
The Liberty Lies of 2014 are a far cry from the Liberty Lies of 2009.Their 2013 debut album, Reflections (reviewed here), was the work of a band that had worked hard to transform all that they had learnt from their influences, from their live experiences, and from their musical aspirations into gold. Proving the band both superb song-smiths and adroit musicians, it was a winning combination that served them well as they bid us follow their daring approach to songwriting and structure through one after another killer track. One year later and the boys are back with a four-track EP, Fracture.
Hard-hitting and hook-laden, the EP is much more direct than the album. As musicians, it’s difficult to self-edit. Having to edit or throw out a riff or a passage that you’ve put your soul into is not an easy move to make, but here, Liberty Lies have been ruthless with themselves and shaved off any and all excess. ‘Undivided’ is quick to get to the heart of the matter, the band wasting little time in getting straight to the point, hitting us with potent riff after riff as Shaun throws out one catchy melody after another. While ‘Circles’ keeps up the pace with the always-compelling dynamics of the track ever-evolving, ‘Vultures’ balances the rock hard with the reflective and the emotive. And with the title track to close proceedings, Liberty Lies once more demonstrate just how far they have come these past five years.
Eschewing lead breaks in favour of melodic and harmonic parts, with a more commercial sound to it than Reflections, there’s a distinct maturity to this EP. While their live performance continues to improve and impress, so do their capabilities as a band. Liberty Lies have again moved from strength to strength and with such an exciting EP on their hands, so too is their future. A killer start to 2015.
9 out of 10
Track Listing:
- Undivided
- Circles
- Vultures
- Fracture
