Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
We are urged from an early age by the well-meaning and the consumed by fear not to stand out, to blend in, to keep our heads down and our eyes averted from the dreams and visions of greatness and extraordinary. It is no wonder then that we as a society might find reasons to distrust those who refuse to be driven to such ruthless measures of succeeding, of producing art for the crowd that is both heavy and unrepentant in its delivery.
To keep your eyes averted from the prospect of fulfilling your dreams is to Step In Line with those to whom will gladly tell you how to live your life whilst never truly doing anything with their own, the constant fumble in the dark and the glare of their scowl just because you dare be the best, the most potent version of yourself that is imaginable. It is to that end that the sparks of courage take root, the perspective of the pursuit flowers and the compulsion to Step In Line is only there because the sound you makes others follow your trail and in tune footsteps.
For Dan Byrne, Alan Rimmer, Adam Kerbache, Jamie Howard and Ash James, Step In Line is an imploring reminder that to be inside the circle that so many wish to be part of can be a double edged sword, you may find the sweet and intoxicating perfume of acceptance held within but you have to remember that it is never on your terms, never in your interests. As songs such as So Alive, Give You The World, No Secrets No Lies, the exceptional Midnight Oil and The River light up the night and set fireworks ablaze with colour and style, the listener is given the choice and the chance to rejoice in their new found voices.
The intensity of the album should come as no surprise for anyone who has listened to any of the members of the band before, but especially of that of Dan Byrne whose electrifying presence on stage over the last few years in Liverpool has been one keenly enjoyed. Now alongside the other four members of the band there is a huge grounding and support, one in which the listener’s appreciation will, no doubt, step in line with and rage against conformity and rigid compulsion.
A tremendous, hard-hitting, and fruitful offering, songs that cannot help but light up the night sky with a bang.
Revival Black release Step In Line on October 11th.
Ian D. Hall