aaamusic | On 27, Nov 2012

Power Trios. There’s something stellar about them that no other grouping matches. From Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, to Rush, Nirvana, Muse and beyond, nothing comes close to the energy and virtuosity of 3 musicians at the top of their game. Nowhere else do you find the essence of a sparse aesthetic filled with the unification of such prominent individual characteristics.

Formed earlier this year, London-based trio Those Makeshift Heroes hit this notion home with aplomb with their EP To Capture the King. Fusing powerful, airy harmonies and even more powerful instrumentalism, the band is a fresh example of just why we should give these groupings so much respect.

Getting things started with its click clock percussive intricacies and the sombre ring of guitar chords, ‘I’ll Give You the World’ rises quickly up the burning rail of distorted palm-muted power chords into a soaring chorus with impressive ascending vocals, while subtle uplifting harmonies send it ever higher; a perfect example of the bands proficiency for sing-your-lungs-out songwriting with a consistent glassy punch.

And it’s a bit of a change of pace to ‘Whispers’, their single from the EP. This is where the comparisons to Biffy Clyro are wheeled out; there’s a pervasive influence from Simon Neil and James Johnston here. But this couldn’t make me happier. From the dedicated unavoidable funk of the opening bass lines to the unusual jangling chord voicings, the music feels distinctly soulful. And while it is particularly evident here, it extends into the rest of the EP; particularly in the vocals, but there is a feeling here, the captures the gritty undertone of Punk Rock bands like Paramore and Green Day. Another nice touch is found in the Incubus-inspired soaking arpeggiated bridge, before fading out, solidifying the tone of the track perfectly.

Track 3 ‘Forgive Her’ is tumultuous.  Smouldering bass and desolating drums, peppered with the rhythmic upward surge of guitar give way to an explosively translucent chorus.  While I felt the track sounded more promising in the opening, the familiar choral chanting that it delivers grew on me. The true strength of the track lies in the impressive vocal layering of the post-chorus.

And if you want a hook, ‘Enough is Enough’ has got it. Opening with an awesome trebley staccato riff with an American rock vibe, it runs through into crushing glass chords, encircled by shivering cymbal avalanches. Guitar layering keeps things unpredictable, before hitting a destructive palm mute laden bridge, building up to an explosive breakdown.

And then there’s ‘Throw it All Away’, and it’s fantastic, from its mechanical riff, deep ocean bed bass, and angelic upwards slides to a brilliantly emotive chorus amongst the bursting chord crashes. The synergy of the three is at its strongest here, coming together to creating a heart racing shout-fest, with so much attitude it presses upon your ribcage.

But somehow, the best is still to come. Descending down, down into an ethereal spiral, they pull out every avant garde rock intricacy in the book to create a collaged masterpiece of sound, with some of the most inventive and beautiful choral guitar and bass work I’ve heard for a long time, particularly from guys as fresh as these. It’s easily the best moment on the EP, and easily more impressive than what some bands churn out in their entire careers. And then its straight back into the chorus with no energy lost.

I’m fully aware that this may be indicative of a completely personal infatuation, but I honestly cannot oversell the talent thee guy have. Yeah, maybe they are riding the coat tails of Biffy Clyro’s trademark musical volatility and angular structural intricacies, but they are coat tails that few can keep hold of. As they bring to the table a remarkably strong take on the rip-roaring American Rock aesthetic with disarming twists, I am thoroughly impressed in a way I haven’t been by an up and coming band in as long as I can remember, and I cannot wait to see what they come out with on an album.

★★★★★

Matt Fellows