Official press release:
It’s no secret that genres ain’t what they used to be; bands taking influence from all over the musical map and crossing the streams is infinitely more commonplace than a decade ago.
Sheffield’s Story are very much a product of these shackles being off, crossing the lines in the sand, openly wearing a cache of influences on their sleeve in the newly released Hopeless But Hoping EP. Frontman Bill Hobson – whose impressive vocal range can switch between soulfully melodic to throaty rage in the blink of an eye – comments:
“The core of our sound is heavy rock with a fusion of metal and a spin of pop. As we take you through the EP these different styles become more clear We definitely offer both the heavier and softer sides.”
On their self produced sophomore E.P, Story – completed by bassist Tom Walker, drummer (and EP producer) Chris Ogden, and guitarists Liam Gratton and Matt Baxter – channel the likes of Mallory Knox and Young Guns as readily as Architects, A Day To Remember, and Alexisonfire, creating a seamless pop rock / metalcore / post-hardcore mash-up in the process. Hobson remarks:
“Fortunately, our scene in Sheffield has quite a mash up of genres, the most prominent being indie and hardcore, which lets us sit comfortably at most hometown shows as our music has both aspects.”
With tight, intricate riffs opening up into upbeat choruses, staccato grooves or soaring, progressive outros in equal measure, Story keep you guessing whilst retaining an overall cohesion via smart, fat-trimmed songwriting. Hobson recalls:
“We have all been in previous bands that split after the first release. The recording of our second EP brought us closer together as a band as we learned what each of us had to offer, and we all contributed to the final product. The development of our understanding has resulted in a more focussed and mature sound.”
Hopeless But Hoping is available digitally on iTunes and on CD through the band’s Big Cartel. A video for the effort’s opening number “Article 10” can be seen below:
Hopeless But Hoping track listing:
1. “Article 10”
2. “Push Me Away”
3. “Community”
4. “Letting Go”
5. “Hopeless But Hoping”
6. “Carry Me Home”
