Edgy Rock With Great Vibes
Melodic rock tunes with an acerbic edge are the name of the game for Five O'Clock Heroes. The band take their name from popular heroes The Jam and wear their influences on the sleeve of their blazers, but this is a cool creation full of upbeat winners brushed with a brash punk edge.
'Head Games's tense harmonies and blistering percussion leap from your stereo and swirl round in your own skull, while 'Anybody Home' has a funky guitar sound with jaunty chords that recall Dirty Pretty Things, but with a definite edge in frontman Antony Ellis' confident vocals, with emphatic pronunciation and a unique sound.
'Time On My Hands' is full of classic riffs amidst jittery indie guitarwork and 'Run To Her's full-on, melodic chorus could kick the pop sensibilities of The Kooks' to the curb with its straight-up shot of cool rock. Acerbic guitars carry the tunes along while the vocals colour them with definite charisma.
'Corporate Boys' aims to reach out for some working class recognition with its cheery ska rhythm as the guitars mirror the melody happily, it's a little like a guitar-happy indie Hard-Fi number, if such a thing were to exist. 'White Girls' sounds like an 80's disco thriller during its funk-heavy chorus. 'Stay The Night' is an agonising song; brooding guitars turn into quivering chords, full of desire for some tempting young lady. This is one of the tunes that bring the album most of to life with impromptu blazing drum fills that break out of the generic lines.
There are some bands that we love for their originality, and some for the way they indulge our desire for good old rock music, and Five O'Clock Heroes fall into the second category with this album of safe, but catchy tunes. Sometimes we need reminding what a good post-punk rock tune can do for the soul, and Five O'Clock Heroes have mastered this.