Fragile Things' 'Echo Chambers' - EP Review

Only a year or so after officially releasing their debut EP Broken Sun (which I reviewed here), the Brighton-based hard rock four-piece Fragile Things are back with the second collection of songs. The new EP, titled Echo Chambers, follows a couple of stand-alone singles released over the past year and sees the ever-growing band really shine with five new songs that build on the excellent work done with Broken Sun. The past year has seen the band's star steadily beginning to rise, with numerous headline and support shows arranged around a good number of festival appearances. Rave reviews for both Broken Sun and the band's live shows have been popping up all over the internet, showing that the band are gaining fans wherever they go, have all culminated in the creation of Echo Chambers which has been funded as part of a successful crowd funding campaign. The band received their target funding extremely quickly, which allowed work on the recording to begin quickly. Once again the EP was produced by David Radahd-Jones, the man formerly known as Johnny Rocker and former guitarist of Heaven's Basement. He seems to be the go-to man when it comes to smaller bands wanting to record hard rock albums/EPs these days, and his powerful and gritty production jobs always bring out the best in the bands he works with. Of course, the fact that Radahd-Jones is a former bandmate of Fragile Things frontman Richie Hevanz makes the pairing a no-brainer. Speaking of the Heaven's Basement connections, Echo Chambers sees Fragile Things starting to form more of their own identity and break away from some of the comparisons that could be drawn about the Hevanz-era of Heaven's Basement and Broken Sun. There were a couple of songs on the first EP that really sounded like they could have been leftover old Heaven's Basement songs, but Broken Sun sees the band taking on a more modern, tougher sound while still taking influence from their early 1980s melodic hard rock influences. The changes in sound are not huge by any means, but it definitely shows the band are beginning to form their own sound which is great to see.

The EP begins with it's title track, which kicks in with a muscular riff and a rolling drum beat. The 1980s hard rock influences can be heard strongly here, with a strident verse and an anthemic chorus that sees Hevanz unleash his stadium-worthy vocal melodies. This is the song on the EP that is probably closest to the sound forged on Broken Sun and this is exemplified when guitarist Mark Hanlon launches into a shredding solo after the second chorus. This song is a set-opener in waiting, and I imagine their gigs are going to really hit the ground running from now on when this beast kicks in! Adrenaline has a different vibe, and opens with a droning bassline courtesy of Steve Lathwell. Overall this is a much more restrained song, and manages to create a pretty atmospheric sound despite the rock and roll basics of guitar, bass, and drums still dominating. Hanlon's guitar lines here are more subtle and melodic, which leaves the bass and drums to really drive the song during the verses which see Hevanz in a slightly poppier mood. Despite the song's title, this is not a song that ever really becomes a true hard rocker. There is a more in-your-face riff that follows the chorus, but overall this is a piece that is content to lay back slightly. It works well though, and shows a bit of a different side to the band. Pick Your Poison is heavier, with a great sliding riff from Hanlon and a bass-heavy verse that sees Lathwell laying down some venomously snaking basslines while the guitars chime around him. Things build towards to a driving hard rock chorus which really sees the band working together as a unit for maximum power. The mix of thrashed chords and choppy riffing that makes up the chorus is a strong combination and makes for an extremely memorable passage of music. Hanlon's screaming solo is excellent too, and really fits the vibe the song. Long, bent notes are mixed with faster, more fluid runs perfectly to create a true classic rock guitar solo.

Disappear is another somewhat laid back piece, and it is actually Hugo Bowman's drumming that really keeps everything on track during the verses. Hanlon again creates some more atmospheric sounds with his guitar, all while Bowman keeps the beat the Hevanz croons out the vocals with a slightly fragile slant on his voice. This is probably the closest thing on either of the band's EPs to resemble a true ballad, but the harder chorus stops it from truly being one. I would really like to see Fragile Things tackle a proper ballad in the future, as I think they would be able to write and perform a good one, but until then this song will show off the gentler side of the band nicely. The final track, The Big Reveal, is a powerful piece that could well be the best thing the band have put out yet. Heavy, chugging riffing characterises the song; and Hanlon's meaty guitar tone brings to mind Alter Bridge's Mark Tremonti at times. The verses are packed with real groove, as the guitar and bass play off each other to create subtle counter rhythms which forms the perfect backing for Hevanz's juddering vocals. The best part of the song however is the chorus, which is packed full of kinetic energy that powers through the speakers. Hevanz's vocals here are fantastic, and sees him hitting some pretty impressive high notes while still crafting catchy melodies. It ends the EP on a real high, and leaves you wanting more. Overall, Echo Chambers is a fantastic second release from the band, and one that shows them pushing the boundaries of their sound further. They are truly a band to watch out for, and I think British rock might be about to add Fragile Things to it's list of greats.

The self-released EP was released on 4th February 2018. Below is the band's promotional video for The Big Reveal.