Inertia Grace - EP Review

Formed almost 5 years ago, Inertia Grace consists of Stu Hurst on vocals, guitarists Rob Frodsham and Tim Ward, and Dave Mullen on drums/percussion (the band are currently looking for a new bassist). The line-up and sound of Inertia Grace has gone through quite a few changes since first inception, including numerous name changes along the way, before settling on the current incarnation. In fact, it's only in the last couple of years that lead singer Stu joined the band, and the direction was set for Inertia Grace to take. And it's been quite a trip so far! You often hear of manufactured press junkets to make new bands sound more intriguing, but Inertia Grace really do have a more interesting background than most. After all, how many other bands could say that their debut gig involved fans needing medical attention, police involvement, and the band members themselves being evicted from the venue after the show! Humble beginnings indeed...

But perhaps it's from this early, surreal experience (and many others like it, such as having to wait to sound check as another venue was being used for the local blood donation event!) that has given Inertia Grace the outlook on music and gigging that they possess. Never too serious in-as-much that they hold themselves above their fans, they are serious enough when it comes to the business of making effortlessly good tunes. And the band's new, recently finished self-titled EP is as good a place to start as any for newcomers to the Inertia Grace experience. Recorded over the last few months, it's a polished collection of four new tracks, which show the diverse range of writing talent Inertia Grace possess.

First track Leave Your Light On is a moody mix of a slow, pounding bass line accompanied by sweeping guitars and mid-tempo drumming. When Stu starts to sing, it's with a voice at once rough (as in impressively hoarse) and confident. Coupled with the more than competent musicianship of Rob, Tim and Dave, it's an excellent introduction to Inertia Grace and one that gives the likes of British band Doves a run for their money.

Next track, Saturday's Been And... is another fine piece of atmospheric song writing, with echoing guitars and a gentle bass line leading into a fully-fledged rockier number. It brings to mind another Manchester band, Puressence, but that's no bad thing. Indeed, it says a lot for Inertia Grace that they can come up with a song so accomplished yet still be classed as a new band.

Your Hiding Place is a gentler piece, yet still has that brooding feel that seems to be Inertia Grace's signature. You could see this one being a particular crowd favourite when played live, as it switches between single-picked guitar work, once again more than ably backed by solid bass and drums. With sparser vocals than the other songs, there's an intensity in this track, as the guitars step up a notch on extended instrumental breaks between the vocals. Definitely one that should sound amazing live.

The final song on the EP, Illuminous, is probably the heaviest, and sets its stall out as such early on. Chunky guitar riffs trade with the vocals, before the drums kick in, with a choppy beat that lifts the tempo. It slows in intensity a little in the middle, when the guitars trade with the bass and drum work, before Stu joins again, lifting his vocals above the swirling instruments, before coming to a crashing, powerful end to finish the EP off.

With the new songs finished, and showing a confidence that says Inertia Grace are ready to go up against the established big boys, the band are now looking forward to taking to the road to promote both the new songs, as well as their older material. If the live shows are anywhere near as impressive as the material that'll be getting showcased, it'll be an evening well worth catching.

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