Single Review: Holy Esque - Tear

They may already be cited as the best new band in Scotland, but the rapid ascent of Holy Esque is showing no sign of stalling. Marked as ones to watch at the beginning of the year, May's debut self-titled EP cranked things up a notch for the Glaswegians, firmly establishing them among indie rock's most exciting prospects. Predictably, levels of hype and expectation have multiplied tenfold, but that hasn't stopped them from conceiving a second release in double quick time. Available as a free digital single, "Tear" represents another commendable progression, maintaining their commitment to diversity and shifting their music into noticeably darker territory. Driven by a wealth of cascading guitars and bleak atmospherics, it's without doubt their most stirring composition yet, with Pat Hynes' divisive husky vocals reaching new levels of emotional resonance. It may not be as immediate as "Ladybird Love" or "Rose," but repeated listening reveals it to be another gem in their small yet concentrated catalogue. Perhaps what's most significant is the fact that it's their biggest moment to date, a move which suggests a willingness to embrace the considerable burdens bestowed upon them. Thoroughly excellent.

"Tear" is available as a free download from Holy Esque's Soundcloud page.

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Artist Of The Day: Holy Esque

Not many bands arrive so fully formed that they teeter on the brink of greatness with their very first EP, but that's precisely the bracket that Glasgow's Holy Esque fall under. Their inaugural self-tiled release (my review of which you can read here) is finally available on iTunes as of today, and suggests that even at this early stage they're veering towards something exceptional. It's a predicament that's made all the more startling by the fact that they've been in existence for little over a year, but already outside voices calling them the best new band in Scotland seem to hold a fair bit of weight.

The quartet - which consists of Pat Hynes (vocals/guitar), Keir Reid (keys), Hugo McGinley (guitar) and Ralph McClure (drums) - play an emotive branch of indie rock which does plenty to recall the genre's current heavyweights whilst maintaining enough identity to hold it's own among such illustrious names. Fans of The National, The Walkmen and Titus Andronicus should all find something to savour in their overbearing shoegazing anthems, while Hynes' husky vocal style will no doubt entice a proportion of the WU LYF crowd, some of whom will have witnessed them opening for the Mancunians earlier this year. What's more important, though, is that they bear all the hallmarks of a band that's here to stay, and once they've fine tuned their sound you wouldn't bet against them becoming a serious force in the indie world.

Holy Esque is out now on iTunes. 'Ladybird Love' and 'Rose' are available for streaming.

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Album Review: Holy Esque - Holy Esque (EP)

EP Rating: A

Imagine The National with a kick, The Walkmen loosened up or Titus Andronicus bereft of their less tolerable imperfections. It is, quite simply, a recipe for indie rock perfection, and it's also more or less what Holy Esque sound like - with the results in practice being just as good as they seem on paper. It's a fairly daunting list of proclamations to attach to a band who have been in existence for little more than a year, but with such an impressive sonic arsenal at their disposal, this Glasweigan four-piece appear custom-built to take the genre by storm. Indeed if this debut EP proves anything, it's that they're already pretty close to fulfilling those vast reserves of potential, and have generated a momentum so profound that there could be no ceiling to what they can accomplish with subsequent releases.