Castlecombe Drive – What I’ll Choose (2024)
Ending 2023 with a unique blend of indie-rock and indie-folk, UK-based Castlecombe Drive delivers a nostalgic lilt of Britpop amidst a contemporary indie-pop tone. Alright, so a few genres are lulling about in the last sentence; however, it merely indicates that Castlecombe Drive’s sound is innovative, versatile and not to be pigeon-holed. December introduced me to the fivesome with the critically acclaimed ‘Blue Skies’ capturing our hearts, leaving us waiting in anticipation for more from the lads. Following ‘Blue Skies’, Castlecombe Drive releases their new single ‘What I’ll Choose’.
Picking up the pace with strong rock vibes, ‘What I’ll Choose’ is a bold fusion of 90s pop-rock with shimmers of alternative rock from the early 2000s. Sitting alongside Green Day with chinks of Fall Out Boy and a heavier sheen of Billy Talent, Castlecombe Drive has a sophistication far beyond its years. Yet, while ‘What I’ll Choose’ has an enchanting elegance to the arrangement, a raw tenderness oozes from the harder, heavier stance. Unlike ‘Blue Skies’ with the lighter indie theme and heartfelt lyricism swimming about musing sincerity, ‘What I’ll Choose’ is a crash of hard-hitting guitars and drums falling toward the mosh-pits and foot stomping instead of a heart-warming melancholy.
Opening with powerful guitars, Castlecombe Drive leads you into a whirlpool of grit and grunge. The pounding drums match scorching guitars kicking you from pillar to post in sonic insanity. While a chaotic frenzy flutters about you rich, bold, warm vocals calm the severity. Interestingly, the harmonious and calming voice meets a piercing metal scream oscillating between light and dark in the rambunctious song.
Entering 2024 with a bold evolution in their sound, Castlecombe Drive proves they are far more than a group of good-looking guys charming people with smiles and toe-tapping music. Heavier, harder, and filled with greater intensity, the boy next door gives you a cheeky wink with a glint of a rebel hidden in his crooked smile.
Find out more about Castlecombe Drive on their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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