ALBUM REVIEW: Eclipse – Reigning Days

Ahhh, Friday 13th. A day regularly heralded as the unluckiest of all in so many spheres of Western civilisation. Not in the case of REIGNING DAYS though, because today sees the release of the Devonshire trio’s debut record Eclipse via Marshall Records. The band themselves have been on quite the journey; from humble beginnings in 2015, they’ve had a lot of coverage from the likes of Daniel P Carter’s Radio 1 Rock Show and Kerrang!, building a reputation as a fearsome live act in the process as those who caught their set at Download Festival in 2016 can attest to; Eclipse marks the end of three years of hard work and toil.

The word ‘mainstream’ can be somewhat dirty in the rock and metal community, because it can indicate an outfit  willing to compromise their sound and ‘clean up’ their tones to build a mass following. Naturally, there some bands who successfully navigate those waters and attract fans of all corners; REIGNING DAYS are set to be one of those. There are a lot of influences screaming out across Eclipse, be it the fuzzy, ROYAL BLOOD-esque vibes of closer Sound of the Future, the BIFFY CLYRO feel of Thrones and Friendly Fire or even the dashes of MUSE that embellish Renegade. Where this album really stands out though is the choruses; catchy and huge, they’ll be in your head for days on end. The swagger of opening track Empire sets the ball rolling impressive and there’s also big impressions left by the expansive Do You Feel and, on a light basis, the sultry Chemical which, whilst treading close to the wistful strains of ELBOW, does enough to stay away from falling into a pithole.

There’s room for improvement however, and whilst REIGNING DAYS have showcased a wide range of styles and diversity, it’s not always a direct hit. All I Wanna Do is a pop rock track that borders on FALL OUT BOY/DON BROCO territory but never really feels like it would ever trouble either outfit and both Inhaler and Boy Who Cried Wolf are lacking a cutting edge that’s present elsewhere, leaving both songs a little blunt in their delivery. When they get it right though, they REALLY get it right, no less noticeable on Crazy Horse which is upbeat, contains the best chorus of them all and even hints at desert rock a la QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE at times.

It’s a mixed bag from REIGNING DAYS therefore, but an overriding sense of potential carries Eclipse along to its conclusion relatively unscathed. It’s clear the band are passionate about their output and this will hold them in good stead for the rest of 2018 and future releases to come. Don’t write them off just yet; they’re definitely one to watch.

Rating: 7/10

Eclipse is out now via Marshall Records.

Like REIGNING DAYS on Facebook.