Mallory Knox have been threatening to blow up since their inception. Since the ‘Pilot’ EP and their debut album ‘Signals’ they’ve always been a buzz band. Now comes the difficult second album and, to be honest, they’ve completely smashed it.
Starting with lead single ‘Ghost In The Mirror’, the band set about bridging the debut with the sophomore effort to great effect. What follows is nothing short of a triumph. ‘Getaway’ deals with the problems of relationships and features a trademark chorus. Mikey Chapman’s vocals have always been of a high standard but he seems to have found a whole new level and it’s shown throughout the 11 tracks. Second single ‘Shout At The Moon’ is the perfect example of this, featuring a chorus made for radio and large venues. ‘When Are We Waking Up’ uses the quiet-loud dynamic to great effect, and is the perfect song for someone who’s in distress.
There’s even time for a Led Zeppelin-esque long song. Clocking in at over seven minutes, ‘She Took Him To The Lake’ shows off the writing talents of the whole band. Hitting so many levels of the emotional spectrum, with so many twists and turns, the song shows a maturity and hints at bigger things to come for the band. One of the standout songs, not just for the band or the album, but possibly the year is ‘Heart & Desire’. A fantastic chorus against a background of noise, this song was written to be screamed back by crowds of thousands.
Overall, Mallory Knox have written a collection of songs which could threaten to catapult them into the stars. ‘Asymmetry’ could quite easily make them the hottest rock band of the UK, and could comfortably slot them in as one of the top bands in this country today. The next tour is a big one, culminating in two nights at the Electric Ballroom. Next year could easily see them headlining Brixton Academy and it’s fair to say that these guys deserve it. A masterclass in the ‘difficult second album’.
ADAM ROSARIO