“Having the courage to swim against the tide, Easyworld invite you into their own universe“.

And what a universe it is, filled with energetic, optimistic good old guitar pop.

After the disappointment of reading the track listing only to find five of the eleven songs were also on last year's mini album ‘Better Ways To Self Destruct’, it was a relief to see these tracks had been redone and were even better than before.

Dav sings ‘Junkies and Whores’ with more heartfelt emotion, 100 Weight (previously hundredweight) with more venom and erm funny little horn parts have popped up in places. There are only minor changes to ‘A Stain To Never Fade’ and it seems that ‘Bleach’ is the song to have undergone the greatest makeover. It's name has even been shortened from ‘U Make Me Wanna Drink Bleach’ when it was decided this would be a single, even though it now starts with Dav screaming that line. This new version reflects more of Easyworld's live sound, which is most certainly a good thing. The other song from ‘Better ways...’ is ‘Try Not To Think’ which was their first single from TIWIS, released earlier this year.

So do the new songs live up to the high standards Easyworld have already set themselves? A definite ‘yes’. My favourite being the absolutely beautiful ‘Demons’, a track written with the intention of finding the perfect song to talk a suicidal person down, to make a sad person happy. This is most definitely a song everyone can relate to while remembering a time they wished they knew exactly what to say to comfort a friend. And Dav says it so well. ‘You & Me’ definitely sounds like it was influenced by King Adora with whom Easyworld toured last year.

While ‘Armistice’ is quite unlike any other track Easyworld have recorded. It’s darker, more guitary and lacks the happy feeling that comes attached with most Easyworld songs. I like it.

The title track is another outstanding song. With distorted guitars and bitter lyrics, there’s only Dav distinct voice to remind you that this is indeed Easyworld. ‘By The Sea’ is a mellow, one-minute song with just Dav’s vocals and a piano. The final track on the album is ‘You Were Right’. It’s a great track sung with so much emotion, which appears to build up until the last.

However, there is one noticeable absentee from this album. Live favourite ‘Better Ways To Self Destruct’, which lent it’s name to Easyworld's mini album but never appeared on it, is still nowhere to be found. I guess it’s going to be one of those songs that if you want to hear, you’d better get yourself along to a gig.

All in all, I think this is a fantastic album that just begs to be played at really high volumes and jumped around to. Easyworld fans will love the new tracks and re-recordings of old songs. And new fans will realise just what they missed out on when ‘Better Ways’ was released. Absolutely fantastic!!!