Years Young – “Hiraeth” [EP] [Album Review]

I have to say that, these days, when I see the words “influenced by Biffy Clyro, Lower Than Atlantis and Mallory Knox” on a press release from another new UK band, it’s odds on as to what the end result will sound like. Unsurprisingly then, Hiraeth, the debut EP from rising UK newcomers Years Young, sounds exactly like I was expecting a band “influenced by Biffy Clyro, Lower Than Atlantis and Mallory Knox” to sound.

The problem is that, while Years Young certainly do take influence from some great UK bands, what they lack is that killer ingredient that will help them up the ladder. They’re already at the stage where they are capable of writing some decent songs but that’s it. Tracks like “Paper Mountain” sound polished and pristine but they suffer from being just too nice and polite to really raise your blood pressure.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with being nice and polite, but there are times when you can tell Years Young have plenty more to offer so if, as the song of the same name says, they’re still “finding their feet,” hopefully by the time their next release comes around, they’ll have found more of their own identity.

Track Listing:

01. Miracles
02. Finding My Feet
03. The Sign
04. Paper Mountains
05. Electric
06. Sleeping Easy

Run Time: 22:27
Release Date: December 1, 2015

Check out the song “Miracles” here.