Album Review

More Than Conqueors – Boots & Bones

• 16th Nov 2011

More Than Conqueors are back this week with their second EP entitled Boots & Bones.
Here the band set their stall out immediately. It’s heavier than their first offering. “Oh My Son!” and “Bear Knuckle Fight” are built around grinding riffs, no doubt the product of a busy touring schedule that has evidently beefed up the bands sound.
The gift for melody remains strong also – “The Deer & The Fox” manages to be musically uplifting and lyrically thought provoking at the same time. Things get sombre four tracks in with the down tempo and trippy “Hunting For the Whale; it could almost be a different band. The lyrical dexterity is evident again but gone are the tight riffs and punchy drums, replaced instead with gentle keys and acoustic guitars. It’s equally as impressive as the rest of the EP and showcases a versatility and depth not often found amongst bands of this ilk. The best is saved for last however. “A Lion, A Man” is the perfect example of where this band are headed, meaty descending power chords, distorted vocals and a chorus to die for. Any song with the lyric “Welcome to Alcatraz” has got to be a winner yeah?
On the surface the ferocious guitars juxtaposed with Kris Platts impassioned Simon Neil- delivery make for a heady mix of punky/post rock loveliness. That would be enough, but there’s something deeper going on here. Boots & Bones isn’t a disposable snap shot of a band at a certain point in time as most EP’s tend to be. It’s a fully realised work, an exhilarating listen that gets better with every spin. Riveting.

Get Boots & Bones here -www.independentmusic.com/releases/more-than-conquerors-boots-bones-e-p