I reviewed a previous single, ‘If Heaven’s Full’, by Nor’n Ir’n exiles, Silver’s Got Strings (now residing in Brighton) last November. It’s a song I liked a lot and has had a lot of listens since then and is now actually one of my favourite songs of the last twelve months. Curiously, the video is no longer available on youtube and the video and single are no longer mentioned on the band’s social media page. I hope it wasn’t something I said, although the mention of Mumford & Sons maybe freaked the band out. Sorry lads.
There is no doubt that new single, ‘Colony’ is a much heavier, less folky, song than ‘If Heaven’s Full’ – even though that song hinted strongly in its chorus and crescendo, that the band had some serious punch up its sleeve. Whatever the reasons behind ‘If Heaven’s Full’ disappearance, it is in the past and ‘Colony’ is the present. So how does it rate?
Any resemblance to what went before comes in the form of the opening, slightly celtic guitar trill. But this soon gives way to a crunchy, funked up riff. Des Magee’s vocals are thick, strong and with a lovely dose of rasp (I like a bit o’ rasp in me vocals). It’s a song full of defiance and vitriol – you feel like beating your chest in time to the kick-drum. There’s a touch of early Biffy Clyro in there, which is no bad thing.
Taken in isolation, ‘Colony’ is a strong song and, if it points the way to the future, Silver’s Got Strings are maturing into a serious Alt Rock band, perhaps moving away from their own ‘crunchy folk’ tag.
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