EP REVIEW: Skin & Bones – All Ears Avow

Having brought out three EPs, 2013’s debut Home, 2016’s Reach, and last year’s Edge Of This, all to positive responses from critics and fans alike, it would have been thought that Wiltshire four-piece ALL EARS AVOW were content with their alternative rock sound. However, deep down, the band felt that they weren’t showing off their true selves with those releases, and that is something they have decided to rectify with fourth offering Skin & Bones.

Comprising of five tracks within a running time of almost 20 minutes, the EP is packed full of soaring, groove-laden melodies, catchy, anthemic choruses, and dominant guitar riffs that manage to sound both funky and heavy at the same time, evoking 1980’s pop music, and the more recent musical stylings of DON BROCO. Firmly holding all of this together are sing-along lyrics that act as a positive celebration of unique individuality, delivered with much intimacy and emotion by lead vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Claire Sutton.

However, what prevents the EP from becoming truly excellent is that there is a lack of musical variety, as all of the songs seemed to have followed a basic formula, which as it goes on, becomes rather repetitive, meaning that on first listen, by the time it comes to closing number Fake, it feels as if the track has already been heard on half a dozen occasions.

That said, though, Skin & Bones does its job of effectively showing ALL EARS AVOW building on the driven alternative rock sound that has served them well up to this point by embracing pop sensibilities, resulting in a fun experience that will undoubtedly boost the self-esteem of anybody who takes the time to listen to it.

Rating: 6/10

Skin & Bones is set for release on December 14th via self-release. 

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