Arms & Hearts: Set In Stone

Artist: Arms & Hearts
Title: Set In Stone
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 25th November 2015
Reviewed By: Lee Morton

Sometimes you can tell what you're going to get just by the name and that's certainly the case here. Arms & Hearts, real name Steve Millar, is emotive, hard-working, heart-on-sleeve acoustic folk-punk. Having been inspired by The Gaslight Anthem, Steve decided to go it alone and started Arms & Hearts to provide an output for his catchy, melancholic songs. This work ethic meant his first three tours were all self-booked and more often than not involved him travelling venue to venue on public transport. Now with the release of his latest EP Set In Stone, he'll be looking to bring his music to a wider audience.

First track Lost is an upbeat catchy tale of searching for purpose in life that immediately sets out his stall. Harsh vocals, more suited to some smoky, whisky-stained backroom bar, over acoustic guitar/banjo, and rousing lyrics that will definitely have fans singing along.

I, Malcontent follows and is in similar vein. The lyrics are slightly darker but the banjo again adds a strange cheeriness despite the context of the song. The real strength of the music here are Steve's lyrics and the simplicity of the guitar work.

The Rain is even more bleak and the pace is slowed down adding a undercurrent of despair, even with the addition of a harmonica, in this tale of relationships.

Dust & Bones has an eerie sound that crackles with emotion and continues the themes of life struggles, until the defiant final refrains of "I know I said I'd be long gone by now/I wait for the day, I wait for the day it all fades away".

Final track Take No Prisoners is a tale of homesickness and probably my least favourite track here. For me the music feels slightly unbalanced against the singing, which is almost certainly deliberate but distracts from the haunting vocals.

Taking as a whole this EP is a very accomplished piece of work. Whilst not ground-breaking his voice and lyrics shine and are sure to win over many more fans.