The limitations of life are explored on The Day’s War. A record which blossoms at the right time, but also takes the listener through an emotional whirlwind, almost placing them into a potent trance that takes time to dissipate. And Lonely the Brave is the band gnashing their teeth at the broken world, a world crippled like an animal, trying its hardest to stand up and face its foe.
The Day’s War is a debut like no other. Usually, bands which design their first record hit some walls creatively and do not fully showcase their ingenuity and abilities straight away, but Lonely the Brave have constructed an album with few flaws.
And it is admirable, that an act can impeccably go the distance with their first meaningful disc, a compendium which catches us off guard and tells us tales of strife, mental illness, disease, and misery. These moments of sadness do not taint the album, they ultimately elevate it, as we as humans connect poignantly to art that is emotionally entangled in sentimentality.
Sentimental values are key to Lonely the Brave’s brilliant ethos. Throughout the album, the band echo times where life seems so dull and unforgiving. Lyrically cohesive, the record paints pictures and lead singer Dave Jakes sings with a bellow produced by his own private hell. Moments of sheer rage add to the mood too, a red mist flurries through, and as the record plays out, we as listeners can hear the clash, the collision of man and demon.
Lyrically the album sets the scene, but the instrumentals are also an integral part. Bruising guitars and volatile drumbeats intertwine to create a bashful but riveting finish. Jakes as the endearing vocalist commands the room and the world on The Day’s War, naturally singing songs, but then adding his own stamp; his gritty soulful verbalisations.
Every song on this record demands attention, and they all belong. It is astounding that a debut record can carry all these diamonds in the rough, these precious anecdotes and spellbinding instrumentals. When it all comes into full throttle, the magic exudes, the sincerity balances well with integrity, it all clicks into motion.
Trick Of The Light starts proceedings. Rather than being a soft intro, it is a bashful, highly intense opener. The guitars meld soulfully with Jakes’s commanding vocals, and the poetry is masterful. He tells tales of bad luck. Backroads is the most engaging song on the record. As a single, it shows vulnerability. Rats see the world decay, Jakes craves love here and under all the instrumental brilliance, he conveys through the cracks in the walls, turbulent days. Backroads is a statement, a marvellous strike at melancholy.
Kings of the Mountain is a guitar driven, sombre portrayal of sad days. Jakes wishes to carve his name into history. The storm impacts his world. It is a beautiful track. The Blue, The Green mesmerises with serious undertones. Hope has died, dreams have been crushed, hearts have been strained, and luck has no home. The chorus is an abrasive onslaught of emotion.
Lonely the Brave have taken memories and have integrated them into a record fearless in its progression. It is a smash hit for the disenfranchised, the people who mourn. It is not the most glamorous record; it is not a peaceful one either; it is a sentimental heart-puller.
5/5
Author’s Note – The Day’s War is a special album to me as it has aided me through hard times. Yes, the record is sad, a melancholic one, but it seems to give me strength to carry on. I love listening to those endearing and sombre lyrics, and I think the album is one of the most complete debuts ever created.
I am a writer, and the lyrical content is astounding on The Day’s War. Every poetic line has been written meticulously to evoke response and emotion. The record has even helped find inspiration to write.
Mark McConville is a freelance music journalist who has been published online and print. He also likes to write dark fiction and poetry.