This Is A Standoff
Be Delighted

I grew up with this genre, and even though my horizons have expanded and often taken me to new shores, I do not and never will deny this scene.

This Is A Standoff formed in 2007, from a breakaway of Belvedere, represented here by singer and guitarist Steve Rawles and Graham Churchill, the former drummer of the latter, joined by two other members completing the line-up.

This brief EP "Be Delighted," released in September 2011, is an instant polaroid of the current health of the scene, to which the same Canadians have contributed (they have recently disbanded, sic) in bringing it to light. The sound is classic, given by a mix of speed and melodic breaks with a fair amount of technique that reminds us of A Wilhelm Scream.

The work opens with "We're really doing it," continues with the bouncy and more melodic "The Enlightened One." The third track is the single, that is, the remarkable "Head in The Sand" characterized by a delightful broken chorus.

"See You at the Bottom" injects a significant dose of adrenaline, giving us a less carefree atmosphere compared to the average while maintaining a high level of engagement that becomes -issimo with the final and very driven "Vanadian," a piece supported by a nice solo and closed by a delightful instrumental outro.

A beautiful revelation, at least for me, although we will unfortunately probably not have the pleasure of hearing something new.