Exit Calm EXIT CALM (Club AC30) - Available Now

Nicky Smith - vocals, Rob Marshall - guitars, Simon Lindley - bass, Scott Pemberton - drums.

“Exit Calm’ is sure to be the greatest album you will hear this year.” It’s a big claim for a new band and its debut album, however, with this record, at this time, and in heavy rock terms, it may be closer to the truth than even this sceptic thinks…

Produced by Paddy Byrne (Unkle, The Hours) and mixed by Ulrich Schnauss, the sound of this record is stunning. Opener ‘You’ve Got It All Wrong’ is an ‘overture’ featuring a rapidly approaching wall of guitar sounds before the drums kick in, and a fair while later the excellent, pleading and distant vocal from Nicky Smith. The melody surfaces along with a meaningful, intelligent set of lyrics, and the best drumming action I’ve heard this year. It’s a superb sonic soundscape that leads straight into another major highlight, ‘We’re On Our Own.’
This song ups the melody stakes, while handing me a problem - which one to play on our radio show? Problem solved, I played both! Sonically, I’m hearing Pink Floyd, some great heavy metal bands, the Verve, and a few more. But make no mistake, this is original and distinctive, and capable of taking this band to a worldwide audience.  And just when you think it’s all over, a glacially-paced vocal enters, the drums explode and guitars strike like bloody lightening - the most exciting and compelling rock track I’ve haard in the last few years. Now all I can say about this track is that I should have played it on my Shake Revelations Drumming Special last Sunday night…

‘When You Realise’ goes way downtempto and contemplative with another beautiful vocal performance that holds you tight in its grip. The guitar and drum work here is subtle and wonderfully executed, while the instrumental choruses are nothing less than hair-raising, and the final approaching crescendo is a blinder.

‘Hearts And Minds’ arrives with brushed cymbals and bold rhythmic thrum that take’s one’s breath away. ‘Don’t Look Down’ provides a downbeat and darker ambience while ‘Forgiveness’ is a relentless bass-driven song of immense power.

Look, here’s the bottom line: this is a stunning debut album that’s thrown down the gauntlet to every UK heavy rock band. These guys from South Yorkshire may well have produced a record of classic proportions which majors on emotional and sonic intensity, and I can’t wait to see them perform live.

4.5/5

Buyer’s view

“Well, if their 1st album is anything to go by then Exit Calm from Barnsley, Yorkshire could be the answer we’ve wanted. Tracks like Hearts and Minds, ‘You’ve Got It All Wrong’, ‘We’re On Our Own’, ‘Don’t Look Down’ are all good enough tracks to fill a stadium alone. If like me, you’ve had enough of a lot of crappy repetitive Indie Alternative music being played like the Kings of Leon and want to listen to something different, then is could well be for you.”