EP review: LEADFEATHER – Roll The Dice
Website [Release date 14.02.25]
With so many of the so called ‘heritage’ bands hanging up their spurs and retiring, fans old and new seek acts that tick the boxes of loud guitars and huge 1970’s swagger. In recent years the rise of acts like Rival Sons, Dirty Honey and Greta Van Fleet show that this appetite certainly hasn’t diminished and in fact, the pleasing number of young, second or third generation faces in the audiences have shown that both the sound and great songwriting has a life beyond the ever diminishing older classic acts. Stand up then London quartet Leadfeather, the latest in line to shout loud and proud that their influences are firmly rooted in those halcyon days when giants strode the stadiums.
Joining driving force and guitarist Simon Hurts, bass player Daniel Devis and the unusually monikered singer Apostolos and equally fantastically named Thanos on drums, the four certainly wear their hearts on their sleeves on this six track EP. Recorded live in just three days, there’s an electricity here that perfectly suits the feel of the outfit, each number possessing a warmth and naturalness of how they operate. This raw approach gives an energy that may be smoothed over if they’d had more time and a larger budget but as it is it captures something of the urgency that made early rock ‘n’ roll so compelling.
Blustering opener ‘Roll the Dice’ is pure Led Zeppelin, full of bluesy arena-filling vibes and a big groove but never edging into parody the way that Kingdom Come or Jayler embraced, the following ‘Silver and Feathers’ a short instrumental palate cleanser. The light and shade displayed on ‘Higher’ highlights the combo’s grasp of dynamics nicely and the taut playing of ‘Danger Zone’ has a sense that this is a band who put the song first, rather than unnecessary ego-fuelled displays of flash musicianship.
There is bombast though and the huge riff and monster vocals on ‘Shoot for the Stars’ has balls a plenty before they slow down a little on muscular rock ballad ‘Why’, concluding the EP on a slightly more pensive note. Well structured, great writing and with some impressive performances, ‘Roll the Dice’ is a powerful introduction to a new name in the business who have got their sights set on the biggest stages in the land. It may be pubs and clubs at the moment, but the stadiums are beckoning as Leadfeather become ones to watch this year. ****
Review by Paul Monkhouse
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