(Experimental / Hardcore / Screamo) Serena Joy - Ours Will Be A Lonely Battle - 2007, MP3, V2

There's seldom few acts out there at this moment in time
who can genuinely claim to be doing something different.
Sure everyone and their son declares that they're bravely
branching out over previously unchartered territory, but
very few actually are. Serena Joy don't make such
arrogant proclamations, but their debut EP Ours Will Be A
Lonely Battle points to an act that are intent on pushing
both boundaries and preconceptions to the full.
Formed under a different guise back in 2002, Serena Joy
are an ever evolving collection of like-minded artists.
The fact that so many people bring their own influences
to the table means that Ours Will Be A Lonely Battle is a
rare release that can recall the cerebral prog-rock of
The Mars Volta one second and the grandiose beauty of The
Arcade Fire the next. 'Movement I' explodes the EP into
action with an array of angular post-hardcore riffs, but
it's the three remaining offerings truly elevate Serena
Joy from the crowd. Tracks intertwine and build into
glorious climaxes, floating along with delicate guitar
lines and beguiling harmonies or schizophrenically
igniting into apocalyptic riffs, the listener has no idea
of what's hiding around the corner.
Ours Will Be A Lonely Battle is a fantastic statement of
intent from an act who you just hope can carry on making
music together and don't get overlooked because of their
ever fluctuating line up and sporadic existence.