Berkshire quartet Streetfightsilence have had some busy years, trying to make a name for themselves. They’ve embarked on numerous tours, sharing stages with some big names in the British pop-rock scene; Don Broco, Francesqa, Press to Meco, Evarose, and many more. 2012 saw them release their stunning debut album ‘Cutting Strings’, which set the foundation for their second album, ‘Dream On, Dreamer’.
This second album speaks volumes about what they can achieve, should they put their mind to it. Tracks such as ‘Broken’ are huge; anthemic riffs combined with the call and response vocals make it one to remember. They know how to create gritty riffs that smoothly glide over the killer, thunderous drum work, creating the skeletal structure for tracks like ‘Hope’ and ‘Water Under the Bridge’ – tracks which will get listeners singing along in next to no time, bouncing around small venues.
Streetfightsilence also know how to create poignant tracks that really tug on the heart-strings. Lyrics such as, “So these are the days of old/where we thought we were invincible/when we were young” are rather emotional, bringing to mind thoughts of days when people were once carefree. But their refrain of “We’re growing older/but we’re not growing up” brings a smile to the face; it’s joyful and fun, a great summer track.
They slow the tempo down on the soulful ‘Seasons’ – piano keys paired with strong vocals that hold their own make this track a standout. Sometimes, when bands place a ballad-like track in the middle of a fast, upbeat album, it can fall flat if not executed properly. But Streetfightsilence have nailed it; it’s sweet and honest, and creates a beautiful breather moment in the middle of their fast and sweaty album. They don’t drag it out for too long either, clocking it in at just over three minutes.
‘Oceans’ displays colossal vocals, which soar over their elephantine riffs, as they continue to crank up the energy throughout this release. For a second release, ‘Dream On, Dreamer’ is an incredibly confident album – put simply, if it were a person, it would ooze charm as it swaggered into a room full of people, drawing attention to itself from the start. ‘Born and Raised’ is a frenetic mess of adrenaline, while ‘These Two Hands’, a previous single, is glorious in its production: mighty fine vocals and energy-drunk riffs create a beautiful track.
Streetfightsilence have really held their own with this release; second albums aren’t always the easiest to make, but ‘Dream On, Dreamer’ is chock full of anthems, which are simply dripping with power. Roll on summer already, so this can be blasted out of cars on long drives to festivals and gigs.
JESS TAGLIANI