Godsticks

Godsticks continue to forge originality with style and present 12 new tracks on The Envisage Conundrum, their soon to be released second studio album. After a well received debut album, a fresh approach was taken and a heavier sound began to make itself apparent within the new music, something which lies deep within their collective influences. The Envisage Conundrum showcases a broader spectrum of music than the band's previous releases; packing a hard punch in places, whilst maintaining a steady move forward in musicianship and writing.

The Envisage Conundrum showcases a broader spectrum of music than the band's previous releases; packing a hard punch in places, whilst maintaining a steady move forward in musicianship and writing.

Since hitting the music scene in 2009, Godsticks have caused a bit of a stir. Self-styled purveyors of progressive rock/pop, they have been notoriously difficult to pigeon-hole, and one of the few new bands who can claim to possess their very own style and sound. As written by one reviewer upon release of their first EP:

?In a world where a plethora of new albums are issued each year, coming across an act where influences are hard to place - or even find - is an eye-opener in itself".

Formed in 2006, the band soon began to immerse themselves in song-writing and developing their own unique style - borne out of a desire to create song arrangements they wanted to hear, but that were never present in the music of their influences.

The band released their eponymously titled EP at the beginning of 2009, with little in the way of promotion or expectation, thinking that the music may have been a little left-field in terms of composition. To their surprise, the sheer originality of the music was greeted with delight and not the reproach initially feared, with ?imaginative' and ?original' frequently used to describe the band. The EP received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with the band being considered ?a refreshing approach to the contemporary music scene?.

In July 2010, the band released their debut album ?Spiral Vendetta' which took almost 2 years to write and record. The lengthy production was worth the effort and the results were described as?mesmerising'. As with the EP released a year earlier, the sheer originality of the music was greeted with delight, with ?imaginative' and ?original' frequently used to describe the band - two words that Godsticks are proud to be associated with. The very first review of 'Spiral Vendetta' eloquently sums up both the album and band:

"Spiral Vendetta has it all in spades with chops, emotion, musicality and imagination, the songs pack a breathtaking amount into concise pieces and the album in no way outstays its welcome."

A worldwide distribution deal was secured on the strength of the album and the band completed a number of short tours and festivals, supporting such acts as ?The Pineapple Thief'. In March 2012, Godsticks were also the supporting act on a 5-date UK tour with ?The Aristocrats'; featuring world-renowned guitarist Guthrie Govan. The tour was a huge success and introduced the band to a much wider audience.

At the end of that tour, the band went into the studio to record the ?The Envisage Conundrum'. The recent and extensive live work had an influence over the newer material - it became much heavier and more guitar-driven. None of the band's originality has been lost, but the new album sees a more focused and settled band, still offering an eclectic array of songs but in a much more accessible package.

'The Envisage Conundrum' will be released on the 4/2/2013