Days Like Stars - Sweet Raging Battles (EP)
A rather poignant and interesting title for their first release, Sweet Raging Battles showcases this young band in the best way possible. Days Like Stars lie in that gentle bed between teenage angst and mature heartbreak, shown through this strong 5-song release through Risky Records.
Their relentless touring schedule over the past few years has had a positive influence on this up and coming band, as it has clearly pushed and developed their sound into something that's tight and professional overall. With an impressive launching pad through their nomination in the prestigious Music Oz awards back in 2002, this band has been able to nuture and develop their style into something that is honest yet still fresh and unique sounding.
The EP opens with the ambiguously titled "Showcase", which as many times as I did listen to it, couldn't lose the similarity in Billy Coleman's voice to that of a younger Paul Dempsey (of Something For Kate fame). This in my books is not a bad thing at all. This tune delivers short, neat choruses and a cool jamming section through the bridge.
The second track on the album "Rescue" immediately reminded me of the Something For Kate tune "Electricity", with much less whining. I didn’t quite warm to this song at first, but after a few listens I was hooked. "On My Own" is reminiscent to something Kisschasey might approach, it has a lovely sparkle to it and contains those indie-whisperings that chracterise this style of music. The abrupt ending to this tune was very Postal Service, which I loved.
Coming up fourth on Sweet Raging Battles, “Whisper” contains a gorgeous warm guitar introduction, with lyrics of calm and quiet desperation, "A whisper's all I need". What better than to end the EP with than "The Lie", my favourite from the release. On this track, Coleman’s voice is an early and more controlled Gavin Rossdale (Bush). The melodies are perfectly suitable and Andrew Rose's drumming sounds soft yet appropriate to round out the song.
Overall, Sweet Raging Battles forges this band as something distinctive and outstanding; the mix by Phil McKellar is delightfully mellow and full. The songs are cohesive and seemingly organic overall, with song lyrics wafting scents of unrequited love, pain and the everyday life struggles that most of us 20-somethings face. They are teenage-based lyrics in a mature vocal style.
Days Like Stars stand out in this loose, indie rock genre, with much deeper and more sincere harmonies than other bands under the same definition. I look forward to hearing their most recent release, Fight The Sunset, and to seeing how the boys will adapt and develop their style as they mature. Days Like Stars' music is accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience, a perfect background for a summer evening on the balcony with a chilled beverage or two!
