Scholars is back following the release of its single Black and Blue with debut album Always Lead, Never Follow. We heard it and here are our thoughts.
First up is Bad For Business a riveting start to the album! The track doesn’t waste anytime catching your attention with its mix of punk and rock and in only two and a half minutes it gets you restless. Rage Concern picks up where we left off. Scholars make a good impression with their melodic guitar intro and then kick off the soaring vocals, which give the track its edgy sound.
Damage is a little more melodic and gives a good boost to the album. A big bass-line and ballsy verses blend perfectly together and to that you add a powerful chorus. It’s generic but enjoyable.
Highlights on the album include Baraka a rock track with a modern twist. We love the electro bits and the futuristic sound it gives to the track. Baraka is probably the most commercial track of the album so far and to be honest we don’t mind as much as we find it rather catchy. Stellar is another favourite with its mellow beat it really gets you a chance to take everything in and provides a good break from louder tracks.
Single Black and Blue certainly is one of the loudest tracks on the album and sounds just as good as part of the record. Hydrochaesin is also big song with its anthem-like chorus it feels like Scholars are smacking you in the face with their mighty sound. The track is also quite generic but is clever and doesn’t bore you in fact it is a fun ride.
For the slower tracks on the album there’s Scaredly Cat, which shows a softer side to the band and yet it is still quite hard. The melodic guitar really give the song its full dimension and the earnest vocals its character.
We’re back in louder territory with Blinda Data and Fractures. The later especially catches our attention with its upbeat verse and an even bigger chorus.
The last track is Waiting, which finishes off the album on a low key.
For a debut Always Lead, Never Follow sounds like a really accomplished and rounded record. Scholars have a released a good album with hardly any fillers and some really interesting ideas. We like it!
