These reigning Days - Opera of Love

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Finding their Muse!

Recently I was sent an album for review by a band with a big stadium filling sound with a mix of Rock, Electronic beats and a bit of a nod to the sounds of the 80’s but this is not Muse but These reigning Days. Having done the festival circuit and already played in front of 60,000 people in the San Siro in Milan... so already played the stadium for the stadium filling sound and now now releasing their debut album ‘Opera of Love’.

Now it can often be accused of lazy journalism to compare one band to another but These reigning Days do sound like Muse right from the opening track ‘Stand Down’ sharing parts of the heavily produced sound and militaristic beats. The sound does continue through the album, but these boys can play and write a good tune just they share or count amongst them, another band from their county of origin. The sound is broken on ‘I need Time’ where a female voice is added to the sound which breaks up the album nicely after it having fitted a pattern up to that point.

‘Smoke and Mirrors’ stands out as a track about half way through, despite the already mentioned analogy to another band always being present this album does grow on you as you listen. In what could be a further nod to another British band there is a track called ‘English Rose’ but it is their own composition rather than a Jam cover, which was perhaps a bit disappointing as hearing an Electronic stadium Rock version of such a subtle song would have been interesting to say the least. Although here it is also one of their less produced sounding tunes.

The album does have a big sound but the overall impression is it is not overblown which it could have fallen into the trap of. With the last two tracks also breaking up or offering a different side again with the distorted vocals of ‘Satellite’ and final track ‘In the End’ ending the album of a bit of a low after the stratosphere sound they offer in other places, in fact it is a bit of shame it sort of whimpers out rather than ending on something resembling a supernova. While being unsure on track one by the end I was sold, it is a great album with a sound that will be great live. So what it sounds a bit like somebody else but plenty of other bands have had the same issue levelled at them and done ok.

Review by Jon Cooper

Check Out! the Video for 'Opera of Love' Below...