Rival Joustas - The Masquerade (Protest)
3/5
By: Christiana Spens
There's been a lot of buzz about Rival Joustas recently, a Netley Abbey four-piece just signed to Protest Recordings and drawing interest from Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley, among others. They have already supported the Mystery Jets, GoodBooks and had already played London's Astoria by the tender age of sixteen. With all that youthful energy and the radiance of early recognition, they have produced a debut single begging to be heard, catchy and fun, burning with angst and a sultry kind of tone:
Why can't you see,
Your life is floating by...?
So stop wearing the mask,
Your head is moving too fast...
They're very youthful, and there's a kind of freshness to that, and they possess potential and chutzpah in their first single. But unlike bands who have developed for years unrecognised, there is less originality, less tobacco in the vocals and the sound of a life lived downbeat and struggling. And although it probably isn't necessary to go through hell to produce great music, there is generally more to be gained from a tune if it has taken blood, sweat and tears. There's more for the audience to identify with, it strikes a chord with common experience... Rival Joustas have all the potential to produce that music in the future, but at the moment their experiences are mainly adolescent, if their debut is anything to go by.
Having said that, they play well, they play hard, and they sound like they could rouse the crowds... so if they keep working hard and playing harder, there's nothing to stop them growing up into an exciting and entertaining band... There's a sense in their debut that school's out at last. This is their leavers' ball - now the big bad world awaits them...
Stream 'The Masquerade' HERE.
Artists in this article: Rival Joustas
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