City Thirteen - Better Late, Then Never Again

This 5 piece rock/metal band are definitely the band you want to see down at your local amphitheatre. Unlike some of the other bands I've noticed recently, they stick to a formula that goes without the electronic warbling of a keyboard or of computer melodies and you can't help but feel they are much better off for it. Their first song, 'Suffer For It' is also the kind of song you'd expect them to open a show with. Such awesome energy and in going for softer vocals then most, Scott Walters takes a risk that I feel is paid off many times over.

Their are plenty of awesome riffs and hooks for you to like about this band and this song in particular. Their second song, 'Summer Song' starts alot slower and you think that they might use this as a breather after their awesomely upbeat first song... but this is incorrect. They follow fast and pacey, with fast and pacey although the second song does have some gentler moments and some instrumentals towards the end of the song that really go down well.

The song is about Summer itself and it really does have a more laid back, lazy and relaxed feel then other more meaningful songs they produce. It really does sound good. I look for some more serious songs now and I come to 'Nightmare', the 4th track on the album. Walters speaks of the losing of his faith and a desire to see the end of days.. a truly haunting song that does what the other songs does but just attacks a different sector of your desire. The instrumental and guitar solo on about 3 minutes screeches into life, timed to perfection, and the end of the song is suitably tumultuous.

The ominously named 'Walking For Miles' starts with Walters bemoaning the ruin of a relationship, to soft guitar in the background, which then explodes into action.. almost as if the sadness and self blame gives way to anger and impotent rage. You can hear the drum clearly in the softer bits of this song and then with the axe grinding chorus, you alternate between toe tapping and head nodding.. I would go on but I would need a thesaurus to describe each song in the positive way they deserve.

A lot of credit must go to Andrew Goodwin on drums for tying together the heavier parts of the song with solid percussion and to John Parker for his excellent solo's that make each song rock just that little bit more. This band are a bit like an English Offspring, but the vocals are less punky and more serious. Definitely not a bad thing, the image this band has created for themselves is further nurtured by this excellent 10 song album and I would seriously get onto them as quick as you can, because why jump the bandwagon when they become huge when you can be the guy driving it?

Scott Walters - Vocals
John Parker - Lead Guitar
Steven Roberts - Guitar
Martin Roberts - Bass
Andrew Goodwin - Drums

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