Album Review

Intraverse – Lay Your Cards

• 9th Sep 2010

‘Lay Your Cards’ has all the ingredients for the recipe of a successful rock anthem; blistering riffs, an epic solo, a catchy chorus and a band performing it whose polished image oozes ‘rockstars.’ Despite all these classic elements, the track avoids being a cliché and, as a free download, is a real treat.

All three minutes and 46 seconds are a journey, without being too long or repetitive – this seems the optimal length for a track to truly rock. The introduction is an infectious and riotous build-up to Max’s enviably memorable vocals, which carry a hint of the Cure in their unusually stilted, sudden bursts. The theatrical bridge carries us to an unexpected turn after such a fast-paced, fiery beginning; the chorus is a heartfelt and urgent demand, which will be stuck in your head for days to follow. The scream, the solo, and the abrupt, perfectly-timed ending (no vague fade-out for this quintet) are simply faultless.

The attention to detail in every layer of Intraverse’s music is a testament to the group’s long-standing friendship and desire to make music they themselves would listen to; all five members clearly work harmoniously together, individually committing themselves to their contribution while making sure it fits perfectly with everyone else’s. It’s easy to imagine just how high-impact this track alone would be performed live; the atmosphere this band could inspire would be electric!

Intraverse have magnificently resurrected the rather defunct classic rock sound, whilst injecting their own youth, enthusiasm and originality to make sure they are here to stay.