It pains me to listen to a band like this. That does not mean I do not like them. On the contrary.

I can visualise a 60,000 strong chorus in a packed out arena after listening to A Ready Defense. But just not yet.

After listening to the tracks on the music player of Misfortune500 I was wanting to shout at them and say “Yes! That sound’s awesome” and then “No, no, no, no, no.”

Musically they are tight and very much a unit which is the foundation of a solid, big sound but I feel the band all revolves around the untrained larynx of the lead vocalist. 

Now worded like that, it can appear a touch on the harsh side, but let me explain my reasoning.  As everyone kind of knows (apart from me perhaps because I know I can not sing to save my life) each individual has a level of sound which they can carry off and make good. Sir Tom Jones for example, cannot do high notes comparing to the late Freddie Mercury. U2’s Bono can not do the saucy yet rustic sound of the Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones.

Where the singing is in the style of crack-influenced, depressive/aggressive punk rock as it is at 3:35 on the track A Ready Defense it doesn’t quite suit the song in my opinion but as it climbs towards to “purely belter” part after the instrumental section there is this passionate, roaring of a sound fantastically similar to the singer of Exit Calm (you’ll have to search for them, this is not their review).

The eclectic, spinal-chilling moment when the singer does release that almighty tone to shiver the sternest of rocker is contained within that singer I have no shadow of doubt but the problem being is using that at the right time and far more frequently as I thoroughly believe that the key to their success lies in there. A slight reduction in the lingering, sustained vocals that carry on a slight amount to far the over shadow the music.

A couple of pieces need moving about and a red-hot poker up the singers backside, Hollywood Bowl, watch them then go.