Leeds 5-piece Eades released their debut album Delusion Spree in 2022. It was inspired by the exuberance of youth, a free spirited reflection of this most precious time of life. There have been many changes since, including the band finding a new home in Bam Bam studios, owned and operated by Harry Jordan (vocals, guitar). With a new professional space, and ever-growing arsenal of production equipment, the band found themselves for the first time able to keep up with their recording ambitions, resulting in the quintet’s second album Final Sirens Call released via Breakfast Records
Opening track‘The Other Side of Life’ initially picks up from the vibe of Delusion Spree, with its spikey energy. But the lyrics make it crystal clear that this is not simply a repeat of their debut.
“I’m not the man that you used to know,
but this life twists and turns just like a knife.”
The upbeat vibes hiding perhaps a more thoughtful point with the admittance of “I’m finding my way” – its staccato finish, honest and striking.
The drums open ‘Backwards’ and the advantage of having lead vocals shared between two individuals is evident. Tom O’Reilly (Vocals, Guitar) leads here creating a completely different vibe to ‘Backwards’. Some tracks just hit the soul, how can that be? No matter, the joy is in the creation and the discovery. ‘Backwards’ is one of the highlights of Final Sirens Call, the drums giving way to a piano section, the retro sound perfect for this track. And it is only fitting the drums get the final say to see it out.
The title track ‘Final Sirens Call’ is perhaps a surprise with its quiet and soaring saxophone section. More considered and thoughtful it evidences the evolution of Eades sound. ‘Did You Read The News?’ follows, with such a swagger. There is a joy to the collective vocal, oozing a sense of friendship.
‘Outside Nothing’ is a callback to the band’s punk roots, yet it also shifts abruptly halfway through into a ballad-esque slice of rock and roll. This instability is reflected in the track’s lyrics, which sees singer Tom Jordan meditate on past relationships and their shifting sense of self. As Jordan states:
“Outside Nothing is about being trapped in a toxic relationship from two perspectives. The first half of the track is about Tom’s experiences in a past relationship that was particularly turbulent and at times traumatic, while the second half are the words I’ve wanted to express to a friend of mine for quite sometime, who’s also in quite a toxic relationship.“
Growth is placed front and centre of Final Sirens Call but also how life experiences alter as we get older, and their impact on us. Such themes are explored on ‘If Only I Knew Then’, ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’ and ‘I Want More’ . This is particularly referenced on the latter track: “Things change so why should I stay the same”. There is such freedom of expression on ‘I Want More’, which is an intriguing title in itself as it has multiple possible meanings. The vocal impassioned, letting go, with a sense of shouting this from the rooftops.
‘Madness, Pride & Poetry’ is one of the best song titles! It takes another surprising turn on Eades second album, rattling along accompanied by a guitar which jangles alongside before it all steps up a gear for the chorus. ‘This Fleeting Wind’ is in a similar vein, an upbeat and yet considered track which travels along with a captivating vocal exuding joy in looking forwards to the future. Final track ‘You Could Have Had it All’ is breathtaking. Soaring in its instrumentation as it expresses community and togetherness is everything. This is further emphasised by the communal singing in the chorus. As it slowly fades out, ‘You Could Have Had It All’ closes Eades second album, the cathartic process of music obvious throughout. Now to hear it live, on their tour – you just know it makes sense.
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