The Winter Passing
Emo folk punk from Ireland isn’t something I come across every day, so when The Winter Passing got in touch about their music, I figured I should check out what was going on. This 5 piece from Tipperary are due to be putting out two split records with Indian Taker from California and Forrest from South Wales, before embarking on their first UK tour in June of this year. As such, I got on to check out their tracks!
As Crooks comes into being there’s a real sense of good time fun flowing through the music, the guitar and bass creating a sense of depth with the drums backing everything up to get you moving along with the band. The layered vocals add a further sense of depth to things, getting the track going in a way which is going to be impossible to resist. Now, I love the sound of an Irish voice singing so I’m bound to be a little biased here, but the vocals are stunning, all layering up but still allowing you to hear the actual sound of the voice, creating a sense of where the band have come from whilst not becoming self absorbed or anything like that. Catchy and powerful throughout, this is a track which sets this demo up as something which is going to lead on to damned good things – for a demo it’s actually stunning!
Feels Like Yesterday moves towards the more upbeat and jumpy approach once again, the vocals which lead us in sounding fresh and clean before the backing track takes on a classic approach to the sound. What’s most striking here is how old skool the sound of the band is, yet at the same time it manages to sound fresh and new, somehow exciting with each different moment of the tracks. The layered vocals once again steal the show here, continuing to add that heart melting quality to things and keeping you listening to find out what’s going to happen next. Nowhere Still follows on and keeps things sounding huge, every single element of the 5 piece band working in perfect harmony to create a sound which is not only huge, but also emotionally engaging. You can’t help but feel pulled into the music here, it’s got that catchy quality which you want to see live, the power almost oozing out of the speakers as the track progresses, each little element such as the twiddly guitar lines, the pounding drums and heavy bass all working together and crafting a track of near perfection. Personally, I’d put this one down as my favourite if I had to choose, but with a selection like this it’s damned hard to pick just one!
Excuses, Kid closes the demo and leaves me with no doubt that this is going to be one hell of a band to watch out for. The lyrics initially are slightly off, but once the track kicks into its full rhythm that all fades into the background and becomes long forgotten. Bass heavy and moving throughout once again, this final hurrah on the demo doesn’t quite live up to the reputation crafted by the earlier tracks, but still stands out as a hell of a track. Emotional, powerful, heavy without being over-bearing, this is another live track and one which I have to get out and see when they’re over here.
The Winter Passing may have only released their demo, but these are going to be a serious force to be reckoned with once they’ve got their albums sorted and get out on tour. The elements which you’re presented with all work together, all creating a sound which you’re going to want to hear more of, see more of and generally, kick back to. I can’t wait to see what comes next, so it only seems right to finish with more please!
To find out more about The Winter Passing, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls.
As Crooks comes into being there’s a real sense of good time fun flowing through the music, the guitar and bass creating a sense of depth with the drums backing everything up to get you moving along with the band. The layered vocals add a further sense of depth to things, getting the track going in a way which is going to be impossible to resist. Now, I love the sound of an Irish voice singing so I’m bound to be a little biased here, but the vocals are stunning, all layering up but still allowing you to hear the actual sound of the voice, creating a sense of where the band have come from whilst not becoming self absorbed or anything like that. Catchy and powerful throughout, this is a track which sets this demo up as something which is going to lead on to damned good things – for a demo it’s actually stunning!
Feels Like Yesterday moves towards the more upbeat and jumpy approach once again, the vocals which lead us in sounding fresh and clean before the backing track takes on a classic approach to the sound. What’s most striking here is how old skool the sound of the band is, yet at the same time it manages to sound fresh and new, somehow exciting with each different moment of the tracks. The layered vocals once again steal the show here, continuing to add that heart melting quality to things and keeping you listening to find out what’s going to happen next. Nowhere Still follows on and keeps things sounding huge, every single element of the 5 piece band working in perfect harmony to create a sound which is not only huge, but also emotionally engaging. You can’t help but feel pulled into the music here, it’s got that catchy quality which you want to see live, the power almost oozing out of the speakers as the track progresses, each little element such as the twiddly guitar lines, the pounding drums and heavy bass all working together and crafting a track of near perfection. Personally, I’d put this one down as my favourite if I had to choose, but with a selection like this it’s damned hard to pick just one!
Excuses, Kid closes the demo and leaves me with no doubt that this is going to be one hell of a band to watch out for. The lyrics initially are slightly off, but once the track kicks into its full rhythm that all fades into the background and becomes long forgotten. Bass heavy and moving throughout once again, this final hurrah on the demo doesn’t quite live up to the reputation crafted by the earlier tracks, but still stands out as a hell of a track. Emotional, powerful, heavy without being over-bearing, this is another live track and one which I have to get out and see when they’re over here.
The Winter Passing may have only released their demo, but these are going to be a serious force to be reckoned with once they’ve got their albums sorted and get out on tour. The elements which you’re presented with all work together, all creating a sound which you’re going to want to hear more of, see more of and generally, kick back to. I can’t wait to see what comes next, so it only seems right to finish with more please!
To find out more about The Winter Passing, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls.