Chase The Enemy

Chase The Enemy have already achieved a huge amount for a band that only found their current form some 18 months ago. 2011 has seen them supporting the likes of Mallory Knox and Futures, playing numerous venues across East Anglia (as part of a summer tour), and releasing their debut self-titled, six track EP. Add to that two battle of the bands victories (at Y Fest and Great Baddow), and you get some idea of how busy these guys have been over the last year and a half. A workload like the one mentioned would be challenging enough for seasoned scene veterans, but the fact that most of CTE's five parts are not even old enough to buy a round of drinks at the venues they perform in, makes their success all the more impressive.

I first came across CTE through youtube (the video for single 'Lionheart'), and therein lies a major strength that the band has over some of their young contemporaries. Their social media presence is spot on, with the band tweeting and facebooking their arses off to get their music to as many potential fans as possible (using 'theenemy' in each of their twitter handles is a particularly clever touch). Although this says nothing of their music (which can speak for itself), utilising the power of social media shows a clear understanding of what is needed to climb the first few rungs of the modern-day industry ladder. The band get regular mentions and tags through Facebook and Twitter statuses, and are not averse to posting the odd freebie cover or teaser video every so often. But don’t be mistaken by this praise; their tech savviness doesn't distract from their ability to write, record, and perform, all of which they do with an admirable mix of maturity and enthusiasm.   

The EP opens with ‘Weigh Me Down’, a huge pop punk anthem that is really brought to life by singer Jessica Moore’s energetic vocal and James Buck’s wailing lead guitar licks. The middle eight section takes the edge off of the crunchy, driving chorus just long enough for Jessica to bring the intensity back to the boil as Thomas Moore’s drum roll builds into a final chorus and outro that cements CTE’s ability to take things up a notch when necessary. ‘Hiding Away’ features another huge chorus, with heartfelt lyrics that are tinged with a sad sense of regret/acceptance. The recurrence of the uplifting guitar slides gives the track an optimistic feel, which is also in evidence on third track ‘Give Us The Sky’, which features a chugging verse rhythm courtesy of Tom Bellman (rhythm guitar) and Josh Dawson (bass). The versatility of Jessica’s voice is clear from the tender pre chorus, which launches into another big, powerful dance-along chorus that bobs around in your head long after the first couple of listens.

‘Jewels’ is more reserved than the EP’s five other tracks, suffering a little from being in the five minutes plus category. If CTE have a weakness it may be in the length of the longer songs, as they flail a little following the initial attack of the first three minutes. ‘Lionheart’ is more concise, crashing in from the first few seconds before lulling the listener into a gentle verse with the haunting lines, ‘So grab the gun and get gone, don’t let anyone inside, just get the money and run, don’t leave anyone behind.’ The huge outro and professional video make ‘Lionheart’ a solid choice for a single release, and captures a sound that the band will surely try to replicate with future recordings. Final track ‘Victim’ is also in anthem territory, with an infectious energy and undeniably catchy chorus, giving an indication of how big CTE could potentially become.

Catch Chase The Enemy now at any of the links below.

 

http://www.myspace.com/chasetheenemy

http://www.twitter.com/chasetheenemy

http://www.youtube.com/user/chasetheenemy

http://cte.bigcartel.com