Project Description
NOTHING BUT THIEVES
‘Forever & Ever More’
(Single Review)
Reviewer: Leah Lovegrove
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Nothing But Thieves? More like Nothing But Bangers.
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The past twelve months have been a rollercoaster of shows for UK alternative rock group Nothing But Thieves. With gruelling back to back touring since the release of their second album Broken Machine last September, it’s hard to believe that the band hasn’t burnt out.
Touring Australia last December and off the back off their recent Australian tour in July, they’ve added fuel to the fire with a brand new single ‘Forever & Ever More’ and surprise EP ‘What Did You Think When You Made Me This Way?’, out October 19th.
With an ambiguous post on their social media platforms last Tuesday (21st), fans signed up to their mailing list to further wait instructions. Only a select few were emailed a vague 15 second video before the band posted the clip a day later; the video containing snippets of the band in the studio, dubbed with twangy detuned guitars and lead singer Conor Mason’s low and dark vocals singing, “We’ll be together forever and ever and more.”
The band announced that a new track would be debuted live at the Reading & Leeds Festival on Friday and proceeded to announce the release of their new single ‘Forever & Ever More’ after their stunning performance at the Reading Festival. After the single’s first play on BBC Radio 1 and coinciding with its release Monday night, the band dropped an unexpected announcement of ‘What Did You Think When You Made Me This Way?’, a 4 track EP due in October.
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Nothing But Thieves at The Forum Theatre – By Len Panecki
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In the short week of teasing there is so much hype and not without good reason.
The hard rock track is filled with glorious catchy guitar riffs and licks, a groovy bass line that’s bound to get your feet moving, tight percussion work and an intense heavy and pulsating chorus that will have you wanting to scream out the lyrics. If that wasn’t enough, the bridge will send shivers down your spine.
Mason’s vocal performance is yet again phenomenal. He sings with his sweet and soft falsetto with sensual undertones, only to belt out the chorus aggressively.
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“What did you think when you made me this way?
What did you think when you love me this way?
Hold me so close when we get to the gates
And we’ll be together forever and ever and more.”
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The heavy beat of all the instruments playing the same rhythm in unison will either have you in a head banging trance or motionless in awe.
We hear Mason’s vocals in a new light as he shows off his lower vocals at the end of the phrase of the chorus; a change from his usual jaw-dropping high notes.
The two guitars continue the main riff onto the second verse, the respective guitars with separate differing effects. They sound like they’re almost having a conversation as one responds across to the other. This leaves the bass to have a little more freedom to play some sultry smooth lines.
After letting the guitar have its cheeky solo following the second chorus, the track strips right down to the bass and vocals repeating,
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“Hold me close, smother me.”
“Hold me close my little draculove. Wrap your arms around me, my draculove.”
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Mason’s crooning. Instant chills.
It gradually builds and builds, adding harmonies, guitars, drums and powerful powerful vocals. Enough to knock the air right out from your lungs. The track finds its way to the epic conclusion, ending on the main riff. I still get goosebumps each time I listen to the song and that’s not going to change anytime soon.
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Conor Mason and Joe Langridge-Brown of Nothing But Thieves
at Captitol Amplifier – By Isabelle Haubrich
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Forever & Ever More cites sounds from Royal Blood and Queens Of The Stone Age. It’s got that foot shuffling vibe mixed with dirty guitar riffage. It can also be compared to Nothing But Thieves’ own track Number 13.
Accompanied with its eerie artwork featured with an eclipse, Forever & Ever More is about the vampiric nature of love. We have lyricist and guitarist Joe Langridge-Brown to thank for the new word ‘draculove’.
It’s surprising that Nothing But Thieves continue to create such phenomenal songs touring on such a tight schedule. They even made an appearance on triple j’s Like A Version, spicing up Gang of Youths‘ ‘What Do We Do If The Fire Goes Out?‘ during their short stay Down Under in July.
The new single is just a small relishing taste of what’s to come on their upcoming EP and the band have certainly left us hungry with anticipation for more. They are expected to take a ‘long break’ after the finale of their extensive world tour and I’m certain the rest of the EP will leave us more than satisfied. Killer track boys.
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WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN
YOU MADE ME THIS WAY?
OUT 19 OCTOBER
PRE ORDER
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CHECK OUT MORE FROM LEN PANECKI AND ISABELLE HAUBRICH‘S PHOTO GALLERIES HERE
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Connect with NOTHING BUT THIEVES
@ ONEBIGLINK
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