Band review: Palava

Palava are an up and coming unsigned band from Manchester. The four piece are Robert Whitehead: vocals/rhythm guitar, Nathan Keep: vocals/lead guitar, Carl Jackson: bass and Oli Hurst: drums.

The band members are a group of friends from high school and a cousin, all from Tameside, East Manchester. They are an explosive energetic band who are looking to explore the rock and roll spectrum, bringing fans music spanning and crossing over genres including indie, hard rock, modern rock with the occasional feel of a heavier rock metal thrown in for good measure.

The band released their first single on last week called Quixotic. Listen to it here!

Quixotic is chaotic, which is what Palava is all about. Quixotic means unrealistically ideal and once you've listened to the lyrics you understand why the band chose this name for their debut single.

The lyrics are very powerful and real, in an anti-love song kind of way, which provoke emotion as they sing about what sounds like an ex-partner doing wrong and the suffering they've undergone, which I'm sure is something we can all relate to. The band boasts unforgettable original songs and the fact they are rolling out such outstanding raw lyrics in Quicotic is a great showcase of how cutting-edge their songs are going to continue to be.

Beginning with a twenty second introduction you get a very rocky vibe, it is drum heavy partnered with a powerful guitar layered on top. From here on out the song mimics Catfish and the Bottlemen's killer tune Homesick, which is one of Palava's favourite bands and top influences.

At around 20 seconds into the song, lyrics begin and it seems slow and quiet but as the song continues tempo builds creating an atmospheric ambience which would be welcomed by a festival crowd. Palava have previously headlined Rec Rock festival on the Tim Peaks stage and currently feature on the poster for 2017, where I am sure Quixotic will sound prodigious for the fans.

The indie-pop bounce which Homesick brings is also plucked into the main body of Quixotic, the juxtaposition from the somewhat impassioned lyrics to the optimistic hard hitting beat gives the fans something to hold on to as the song unravels.

The fact that this is their first single indicates the lads talent is boundless. From the emotionally provoking lyrics to the upbeat anthemic chorus this single is a 10/10 from me.

Get down to Zombie Shack's various live Tuesday nights to support Manchester's unsigned artist and hear some top tunes.

Follow the band on their social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Soundcloud