Reviewed by Danny McMartin

Formed in Scotland in 2012 Arms Against are seasoned musos on the Dundee music scene. Their folk-tinged release is a breath of fresh air in what can often feel like a stale and repetitive rock genre. The band's singing style is reminiscent of Alice In Chains' Layne Staley while production offers many vocal layers. While their instrumentation is not drastically different than any other modern soft rock band, they do harness their strengths with every member knowing their place. The result comes in the form of seeming like more than the sum of their parts. Of the four tracks on this EP, "After Dark" is a standout with guitars topped with Mumford & Sons-like harmonies. Locking in with the melodies is how naturally the God-centric lyrics fit ("I turn my back away and find you were with me all the time. only a breath away"). Let's hope that their next release will be a full-length album which will continue this positive start.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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