British alt rockers Never A Hero formed in 2009 when two bands merged together. The band released their debut EP Socially Awkward in 2012.
The band are releasing their new album, UnEvolution on March 30th.
We had a listen:
Sometimes we think that humanity is un-evolving. When we consider how infantilized our contemporary society is becoming – it makes us worry.
It was the Ball-Pits for Adults that first got us feeling anxious about the state of our shared evolution. Then we discovered that the average Western grown-up has an attention span less than that of a goldfish – (a mere 8 seconds, since you ask.)
Highest grossing movies last year? (Anyone, anyone…) The LEGO Movie, Hobbits, Ninja Turtles, Cartoon characters. Best selling books? Awful Auntie, Jamie’s Comfort Food, Diary of a Wimpy Kid etc.
Currently, our pet-hate is that poxy maoam advert. (We deliberately put the name in lower-case so we didn’t give the bastards any more publicity than they deserve.)
You know the advert – it’s the one with the idiotic camel-faced twit wearing ‘brainy’ glasses – he spends all his day scoffing a toddler’s sweetie chews. He is shown idling time away in a loft apartment with a hot bird named Emily (the gorgeous Beth Rylance) – yet what does he do? He eats his baby-sister’s sweeties! After the candy-treats, Emily probably puts him to bed in his pampers – before powdering his bum. At this rate, we’re gonna be extinct within 70 years!
So we think that ‘Never A Hero’ are onto something with this title.
The new disc starts with the aptly named a “Thousand Days Wasted” – no doubt they’re wasted scoffing maoams! Quite understandably, NaH are very annoyed at this – so they stomp around like dragons with their pee-pees stuck in their zippers. It’s a great opener.
Then onto ‘Munchausen’ named after the famed psychiatric patient. This number is complicated – with angular riffs and changing time-signatures. We love the low-work on it – and the voices are exquisitely hot and high. What a challenge this track will be for the 8 second-idiots. It also contains a magnificent guitar line and the kind of melody that gives us hope. Maybe we are not lost… Well, not just yet.
“Not Too Cool To Dance” is an oddity. Running along the railway like a fire-tube running out of track. The burning, rapped lyrics wrap around the crux. But, in fact, this is a rocking stomper. And, of course, you will not feel cool to dance to it.
We also loved the “God Is Complex” track too – but, if (as Christians believe), the Almighty really did make us humans in his own image … he is probably gulleting a whole packet of Haribo right now. Anyway, this track has a Hammer-horror approach. A fine interlude with broken glass in the distance, creaking floorboards and a despondent piano.
This really is an album that includes everything – it’s full of complex shapes, sounds and energies. And the surprises are around every corner. When you arrive at the last track “Time To Crucify” you know you’ve been on a journey. And the journey has been well-worth the extraordinary effort you have put in.
The harmonies spiral around the central core of this operatic number – whilst keys trill , guitars rumble and the sound of the beast is never far away. It is a very impressive finale.
Motivational, life-affirming and kick-arse rock created with a passion for creating interesting music – this is perfect stuff.
For all the know-somethings out there who are still with us. Thank goodness!
Words: @neilmach 2015 ©
https://www.facebook.com/neverahero
While you’re waiting for the new album, you should check out Burning Skies taken from the band’s debut album Bleed Between The Lies:
RAW RAMP 