Album Review

First Of The Giants – Hypochondriac

• 22nd Apr 2008

‘First of the Giants’ seem to be aiming for the grandiose power ballad force of the ‘Manic Street Preachers’, ‘Everything Must Go’ era. But it’s hard to escape the feeling that they are punching a little above their weight. Full credit to the band for trying to excel beyond their limitations, but their song writing ability doesn’t appear to have the capability to profit from the layered and harmonious sound they’re adopting, and in effect it sounds a bit drab and grey.

The music is far from timeless and if anything sounds a little dated. If it was 1998 they’d no doubt sound a lot more promising. Unfortunately for them though in an era where British music is still either thriving off the ragged ramshackle libertines sound or divulging into electronica, only the very few succeed in the world of epic guitar music. ‘The editors’ and ‘Interpol’ are prime examples, both these bands have the production and cinematic aspect of their music down to a tee, but for an upcoming band such as ‘First of the Giants’ it’s a big gamble to aim this big, and whilst they may have the big ideas the execution just isn’t there yet.