Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8 ^1/2/10

You can try and avoid life by throwing yourself head first under the nearest boulder and staying there till the shadows lengthen, humanity inevitably destroys itself and blue skinned flesh eating Morlocks roam the English countryside sipping out of date gin and serenading each other with Justin Bieber compilation albums, such is the path well travelled when you ignore life.

Or you could endeavour, to struggle with clarity and purpose to bring something of yourself to the world in the Tried and Trusted way, to show that Humanity really is worth it and offering, despite the howls of derision you may face, music in which to be proud of and something that makes someone think. Such thankfully is the sign posted way presented by Arms & Hearts and their new E.P. Tried and Trusted.

The upbeat, seemingly natural optimistic way in which the music flows is counteracted quite superbly by the lyrical delivery of Steve Millar. The anger in his voice, the deft deflection in which the timbre rises with the vision of a man who understands that life is only as good as you can make it and that the way society seems to have become one that is judgemental on those who endeavour at their passions.

The songs on the E.P. growl with the enthusiasm of a group out to, if not change the world, then at least make you look at the real reason why we are here, to gain knowledge, to leave something of our soul behind and to inspire others. That growl heard throughout the four songs resonates and vaults as it stirs the conscious, from the opening of Over and Out, through A Thousand Holes, Set In Stone and the E.P. title track of Tried and Tested carries the memory into a realm of undisguised joy, the same joy when a question has been bugging you for years and finally the symbolism makes itself known.

To come across a band who shows the way is rare, to have them by your side through the darkness is a privilege that should never be ignored.

Tried and Tested is available to purchase now.

Ian D. Hall