The Rivers, a three piece indie/rock band from Merthyr Tydfil have recently released their debut EP: ‘Life in General’. Their work is influenced by bands such as Oasis, The Stokes, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Arctic Monkeys, the perfect mix for a band wanting to excel in this scene!
The first track, ‘Juncture’ gives a steady start to the EP and is particularly reflective of their indie influences. This song was released prior to the EP as a single and was the perfect insight in to the rest of the EP and their sound as a band. The rhythmic guitar strums and prominent vocals carry the song to the chorus where it erupts with the drums taking much more prominence. This livens the song up and creates a beat that makes it hard to resist bopping your head or giving you foot a little tap! The guitar intensifies post bridge in the build-up the outro and ends abruptly, leaving the listener thrown straight in to track two…
Influences Catfish and the Bottlemen are particularly noticeable in the second track, ‘Realise’, in which the song takes on a slower, laid back sound. The vocals are especially reminiscent of Catfish’s Van McCann with their seemingly effortless delivery. ‘Realise’ dives straight in to the song, and the lyrics become more passionate as the song progresses. This track dips more in to the realm of rock than its predecessor but nevertheless still encapsulates the alternative sound of The Rivers.
As with ‘Juncture’, ‘For You’ was also released as a single but it takes on a slightly different feel. The introduction is laced with a heavier guitar sound, making it a song with a purpose. This song is on a mission to win you over! In the build-up to the chorus it slows down and strips back the previously heard guitar, replacing it with occasional strums. This adds an element of simplicity and draws all the focus to the lyrics with their almost seductive appeal. This is definitely a stand out track!
‘Industrial Lights’ is the longest song on the EP, and sometimes longer songs can be known to drag on a bit, but this one keeps the listener guessing! The intro fades in slowly with a mellow guitar to start, accompanied by Daniel Hewitt’s smooth vocals. The pace of the song remains constant right from the start and past the chorus, making the song flow as one. However, the drums amplify mid-way through and further in the bridge! These gradual changes in tone are so seamless that they’re almost unrecognisable but they take the focus away from the length of the song and make it an engaging listen throughout!
This dynamic EP is concluded with a track named ‘Hello Today’. Its energetic intro really embraces The Rivers’ rock influences and straight away separates it from the rest of the EP, which took on a more mellow approach. The edgy vocals and reckless tone of the song make it a memorable track and an absolute banger to round off the EP! A track like this leaves the listeners eagerly awaiting a future album…