Brave Rival
5 To 4
Self-Released
Portsmouth-based rockers, Brave Rival, have had a good year. With co-vocalist Chloe Josephine departing in late 2024 to focus on family, 2025 saw the band voted the UK Blues Awards’ “Band Of The Year”, and now they top it off with a new EP in the form of ‘5 To 4’. So how does it sound to be a band on the crest of a wave?
Pretty good, as it happens. Opener Let Me Rock ‘N’ Roll delivers energy in spades, with a defiant performance from vocalist Lindsey Bonnick, whilst Poison – their attempt to “write the AC/DC anthem that never existed” – certainly feels like an homage to the Australian masters. The EP’s centrepiece, Try Again, is where the band really hit their stride, though. With big vocals and tasteful leads, it is the main riff, however, with its bottleneck-influenced slides that make the head bob and your hand reach for the air guitar. A terrific mid-tempo rock romp.
The EP rounds off with the up-tempo shuffle of Wild Child and some acoustic versions of three songs, which, while more stripped-back, maintain the vibe of their fuller renditions. So, if a good collection of rock songs is what you are after, then Brave Rival’s ‘5 To 4’ will ably fit the bill – for blues-influenced rock, that “Band Of The Year” award is certainly merited.
https://www.facebook.com/braverivalband
Review By Lee Carter