The Sheffield Scenester

She Doesn't Love You
As I kick back to listen to this EP and straight away I’m sitting back up at the immediate energy from the first song. The repeating, vibrant beat has an instant hook and element of mounting tension, gradually growing into an increase in volume, the sound resembling Eagles of Death Metal (don't worry, they’re not as heavy as they look!) It's a really accessible and enjoyable form of rock, one that doesn't fail to satisfy and makes all the right noises, just when you want them. After that intensification of the basic sound, it's pretty much rinse and repeat…and that’s not meant in a negative way…it’s good, fun rock, delivering a quick fix and leaving me needing to listen to it again and again.

No More Domestics
With a slower pace than 'She Doesn't Love You', but a similar method of progressing through the song, with the simple rock tune developing into a strong, drum smashing sound. The vocals to 'No More Domestics' change the atmosphere, the gravelly, growling commands of an abusive husband complimenting the bass driven beat to make a darker and deeper song, hinting towards heavy Blues. It's not all doom and gloom though as the lyrics “you're not goin’, or I'll give you a slap!” are accompanied by a mischievous sound affect smack, that might raise a smile if not a chuckle, an achievement considering the subject.

Away
Fading in with the sound of waves, I'm expecting a melodious 'sounds of nature' ballad to sing me to sleep. No. A galloping beat rolls in with the tide, expressing the duality of the sounds within this song, the slow pace originally introduced with a quick indie rhythm on top. A whining tune rplaces the waves as the slow edge and floats above the constant jogging beat, washing against each other and then joined by vocals resembling a Gallagher. The track is defined by the alternative speeds of each sound: the result is a song that seems to set sail for Reggae, but ends up back home soil in Indie.

Moving to New York
Indie fans rejoice, a cover of The Wombats 'Moving to New York' marks a departure from rock for Failed Theory. The vocals of this version are echoing and haunting and sound almost like The Cure, quite a contrast to The Wombats clear and neat indie sound: the clearest part of Failed Theory's interpretation are the drums and the backing wails during the chorus, giving the song a heavier sound and attempting to deepen the usually light Indie tune, that I personally feel improves it.

This set of songs from Failed Theory are definitely staying in my iTunes library, nestling in between Eagles of Death Metal and Foo Fighters, a place I'm sure they'll be comfortable in. Most Played? She Doesn't Love You.

Words by Chris Cooper