Woodenbox

‘End Game’ is the new album to be released by Scottish band Woodenbox, and is the follow up to 2009 album ‘Home and the Wildhunt’. Woodenbox have toured relentlessly, been aired on radio all over the UK and played many festivals over the past few years: ‘End Game’ is the final product of hard work and the developments in an incredibly good band.

Fronted by Ali Downer, Woodenbox combine folk, punk, acoustic and rock to create a completely new genre. With eerie piano on some tracks, flamboyant brass on others and flirtatious acoustic strings the whole way through, ‘End Game’ shows off the diversity of talents that the band is made up of. The album is poetic, edgy, loud and bold, a very rare accomplishment for only a second album.

'Roll For Me' opens up the album, instantly introducing the trademark catchy Woodenbox sound. Downer's deep and dark vocals are juxtaposed by an obvious smile as he delivers the lyrics, a technique that you can hear throughout the entire album. ‘Save Yourself’ is an example of creative song writing, showing that in amongst the fun and loud music, Woodenbox will always give you something to think about. ‘Royal Mile’ starts with a rhythmic and pounding drum beat; it is a great song that will stick in your head forever. ‘Kings Liar’ allows electric guitarist Jordan Croan to take lead vocals, and if you close your eyes whilst listening, you’ll feel like you are at the front of the dance floor during a live show.

‘Everyone Has a Price’ is perhaps the best representation of who Woodenbox are and what their music is about. There is an air of sarcasm in the lyrics, doubting the ‘price’ of human existence. All this is counterbalanced by the jingle-jangle of an acoustic guitar and the rumble of a brass section at the forefront. For me, ‘Everyone Has a Price’ is the highlight of ‘End Game’.

'End Game' is certainly a triumphant new release for Woodenbox, an album that shows the band at their musical best. Woodenbox are a Scottish band and this will always prevail in their music, but End Game is definitely a world class, worldwide, world phenomena of an album.