Album Review: Hey Sholay

The murmurs about the death of guitar music might be dull and over-used but what they really mean is that there is a lack of exciting guitar-based music whilst other genres are inventive as they cross new boundaries. There are only so many ways to put three chords and a memorable chorus together, it sounds so simple but to produce something that isn’t throw-away and repetitive to what has been already made is far from easy. Enter Hey Sholay.

This northern five-piece are anything but throw-away, they make intelligent and imaginative music that involve guitars and chorus’ that are born to sing to but the structure and composition is delivered in a clever and well-made way. The band release their debut, ((0)) this month and how-ever many times you give it a spin not only will it not become boring quickly but you will discover something new underneath their catchy numbers.

From the powerful and intense opener, Wishbone (wish wish wish) to the adventurous and intrinsic closer Golden Is The Colour Of The Sun (Run Rabbit) the band offer a little bit of everything as heavy riffs collide with soft vocals and big drum beats take-on creative synths.

Singles, My Blood, Burning and Dreamboat are catchy, bright and breezy whilst The Bears, The Clocks, The Bees take the listener on a journey as it treks through a jungle of sounds, tangled up in the depths of experimental movements. There’s drama throughout the record, Shut The Devil A The Backdoor is filled with passion, heart and honest as Ol’ St Nick flows with a daring daze and this is why the group are here for the long-haul.

((0)) is released through Fierce Panda on 17th September.

- Matt Pinder