This Is Freedom - Welcome Home EP Review
Posted by Hunter on Wed, 30 Nov 2011.
Henry Swash – Guitar & Vocals
Jon "Jay" Scott - Vocals & Guitar
Benjamin Collard – Bass & Vocals
Dan Graham - Drums
"This is Freedom" described themselves as being four nineteen year olds from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire who play Alternative Pop Rock, who after finishing college got together and formed the band. Recently though, Henry has left due to other commitments, so they'll be continuing as a three piece outfit, in what is already a highly competitive market. You've already got bands like You Me At Six, Young Guns, Kids In Glass Houses etc, but does "This is Freedom" have enough in them to make the cut? In the words of my favourite vocalist, "I'm cautiously optimistic".
Opening track to their EP, "St. Helena" is a dead cert to have their audiences bouncing along at their gigs singing along. It's catchy, inoffensive and familiar. Second track "Bitter" sees more of an individual style to the vocals from Jay at the start, before lapsing into the familiar delivery of say, Brendan Urie of "Panic! at the Disco". "Welcome Home" has a slightly slower pace to it, less of a bite. "Hurricane" is something of a more subtle track, very well written, and finally the last track, "Sticks & Stones" opens up with some nice drums from Dan Graham.
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All five tracks have the same "feel" to them, all well written, all well delivered. I said I was "cautiously optimistic" at the beginning, and that's because what I've heard so far from "This is Freedom" is very good and promises a great deal more. The question is whether their choice of replacement for Henry is up to the job, or actually, the bigger question of whether or not the sound of the band will alter due to a new personality joining them. Either way, what we have here are four very talented young musicians who are likely to do well. "Welcome Home" is a little gem of an EP, and if you're a fan of "Panic! at the Disco" and "You Me At Six", you're going to love "This is Freedom".
You can find the bands Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/thisisfreedommusic?sk=wall