The rugged landscape of the North East of England, it is treacherous, it is stunning, it is full of pitfalls and poetic landscapes that mirror the music scene. Out of these characteristics emerge Juliet’s Not Dead, an awesome foursome of muscle and might that tug at your heartstrings and then surge through the city streets like a bunch of rampant tearaways.
Initial thoughts I get Brainstorm, and I get H.E.A.T two bands that are notorious for their immediate impact and they know how to wrestle the audience to the ground.
At a time when the world has lost its mind and the court of public opinion is so unkind, sit down at the table and partake in the forbidden fruits.
I absolutely love this record, it has a power that simmers underneath the wholesome melodies that let you drift away, there is fight and might within these walls, there is a time to breakout and a time to contemplate. The intro music to each track is superlative; they hold their own before the vocals make their entrance, have a gander at ‘Thrillseekers’ and ‘Open Fire’ two absolute ragers.
This is fabulous stuff from Stevie and the boys, the ‘Battle Scarred’ therapy session is cleverly assembled, it has a storyline that many people will relate to and the video is especially poignant, I love the way it ends, as the band lays down their instruments, and we lay down our arms, a break in the battle of your heart, body, mind and soul, to find a way through the woods. This for me is the submission move of this album.
The producer’s chair occupied by the legendary Romesh Dodangoda, nothing more to be said really, it is an exceptional feat, bringing us a body of work that is unified, attractive and a rulebook for the art of songwriting.
With ‘Double Life’ you’re left with ‘another broken heart’ and under the reign of our ‘King and Queen’ we will be the ‘Last One Standing’ as the riffs rip through you, but you are stabilised by the soaring melodies and anthemic choruses. In time, these songs will be amongst the classics that I hear during set changes at gigs. For now, though, the album finishes with the haunting, chills down your spine ‘Capsize’ recounting a situation that we have all experienced at some point. We have all capsized under the strain of lies, broken promises and destructive behaviours, we have all been left dumbfounded, and ungrounded by people who love to play with your life. It takes courage, lots of it, to take a stand and find our way in this world.
Juliet’s Not Dead are a voice of reason and positivity, transferring their stories to us, we can enjoy the tunes and we can learn from them.
Succumb to their melodic musical power – we rise, we are the sign in the northern sky and make no mistake, this world is theirs to take.
Azra Pathan
Juliet’s Not Dead – This World Is Ours out now.