Bentley Park: Innocence

Artist: Bentley Park
Title: Innocence
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 14th April 2014
Reviewed By: Dan Stoten

The music world is awash with post-hardcore bands, with melodic bands, and with those that straddle the divide between the two. Bentley Park are another of those bands, so is their début EP, Innocence, enough to make them stand out from the crowd?

Unfortunately, Innocence doesn't get off to the best start. First track Blood Ties starts off well enough, with some threatening riffs and classical samples alongside growled vocal, but about a minute and a half in, it all gets a bit messy, with the multi-layered effect of the track all becoming a bit too much. It's not a bad song, but definitely could do with a bit of refining, perhaps at times seeming to almost overrun itself.

The EP improves from there, however. No Hope For The Hopeless is a much simpler song in it's execution, relying much more on James Shaw's sublime vocal and the melodic nature of the guitars behind. A lot more bouncy, with a cheeky, perky edge to the lyrics (something which definitely stands out in a band of this genre), this would be a better introduction to the band than the flawed Blood Ties. Although the song has that perkier edge, there is still some grit here, which reaches a brilliant crescendo later on in the track.

Third track on the record, Dear Luscious, combines influences from various genres to strong effect. Opening with a heavy intro before dropping to an almost powerpop-influenced beat, it's both a unique and interesting song. Once again, Shaw's vocal is stand-out, his range and variation stunning. The chorus here has a more pop-punk vibe, with the energy it creates feeling like a river bubbling and splashing along. Although at times it does feel like this isn't the most coherent of songs, Bentley Park should be applauded for putting themselves out there and trying something different.

Sly_ther has been released for free download recently and starts off in a brooding fashion, slow and menacing with some violin samples, before dropping into some heavier riffs. For me, however, this is one of the weaker songs on the EP. Again, it doesn't really blend together too well: the result is a spiky, undulating track, which sounds at times like early My Chemical Romance, and others like Fall Out Boy. It's a bit of a bizarre combination but does have a certain likeability, and you can't help but enjoy the throaty screams later on in the song.

All The Fists In The World Won't Save You Now is the best song on this seven-track EP. A brilliantly melodic yet bouncy track, this one combines heavier vocal with some beautifully soaring melodies, and a guitar backdrop which gets you headbanging within seconds. This is the band at their best, and showcases influences from the likes of Pierce The Veil. It's one of those tracks you become instantly familiar with: one which just feels very right the moment you hear it.

The EP closes with Nil To The Fools, One To The Thieves, which features Sam Graves from York metalcore band With One Last Breath. It's got a heavier edge, again combining influences from My Chemical Romance and Pierce The Veil, and closes the record well enough.

Overall, then Bentley Park have produced a solid debut. It's perhaps not the most coherent and flowing record you'll hear this year, but there are some flashes of excellence here, most notably in All The Fists In The World Won't Save You Now. A little bit of refinement, and this Northern quintet could soon be hitting the big time...