The Amazons - The Amazons

The Guardian 60

(Fiction)

Like Palma Violets, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Circa Waves and many others before them, this hotly tipped four-piece from Berkshire infuse the best bits of mid-noughties guitar music with a woah-and-ooh-heavy pop sensibility. Their debut album kicks off with Stay With Me, with its earworm riff and singalong chorus built around the three words of the title, complete with those obligatory whoops. Similarly, Junk Food Forever – their latest single – is a Radio 1-friendly voyage into loneliness via some fairly unchallenging lyricism (“Junk food forever / Late nights together / Jackets in leather / I can’t forget ya”). Things are more amped up elsewhere, with Black Magic and Burn My Eyes taking a darker, more Royal Blood-ish turn despite similarly catchy refrains. The latter in particular proves a highlight, with the focus switched from anthemic guitars to a spaced-out synth line and swirling vocal. Sadly there’s not quite enough of that energy, with piano ballad Palace particularly lacking in vigour. The Amazons have a playful rockiness that could see them rise above the surfeit of indie revivalists, but right now they’re still a little too close to landfill.