handsome distraction - a mighty roar

Handsome Distraction

A Mighty Roar
self-released; 2013

3.7 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Emerging in 2009 Handsome Distraction is a four-piece rock band from Victoria, Canada who just released their third EP A Mighty Roar. There are five well-written songs on this EP that are about 3-4 minutes long and contain an ample amount of energy. The energy emanates from rocking distorted guitars, arena sized leads, and a great rhythm section. It should also be noted a lot of the energy comes from the professional sounding presentation provided by Infinity Studios. The songs on this EP aren't particularly experimental and they don’t break any new ground but I don’t think these guys plan on reinventing the wheel. Instead they rely on tight song structure and often have catchy verses and anthemic choruses. The band doesn't wear any influence on their sleeve but instead you hear an eclectic palette of bands such as Pixies, Foo Fighters and even Weezer come out.

The first song on the EP, “No False Alarm” is kinetic and forward moving. It is one of the highlights on the album and packs quite a punch. Everything works here from the pulsating drums, to the varied vocal harmonies to the awesome breakdown of distorted bass, drums and vocals towards the end. If you need a quick bolt on energy this is just as good as a shot of Red Bull. “The Why” is another good song that cools things off a bit. The chorus sounds like something you would hear on FM radio and I think this song would be a strong contender for the single. It has a post rock inspired reverb laced guitar solo that was thoroughly enjoyable. “Promises” has guitars that sound like early Bloc Party and the most anthemic chorus on the album. The album closes with “Stricken” which starts with dueling soaring guitars before they take a backseat to the vocals. Some of the best drum work is on this track and reminded me a bit of Bryan Devendorf on The National. The song was a good choice for a closer as it ends up being the most explosive.
 
Overall, this band is creating some pretty impressive material. They sometimes veer a bit too much into commercial sounding territory that has been done before but for the most part, this is far and in between. A Mighty Roar showcases a young, talented band that has a knack for writing adrenaline inspired rock songs.

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