Album Review: The Audition - Chapter II EP

The Audition, a band no longer associated with Victory Records, seem to have discovered a sense of pomp and swagger unseen by them for a number of years. Bands can respond differently to cutting ties with a long-standing relationship, with some making the decision to spend the next release point-scoring over their former employers, or even finding their songwriting suffering as a consequence.

The Audition nod towards the shift in circumstances with the EP’s title – "Chapter II" – a clear acknowledgement that the band is looking to start something new, but they let the music do the talking after that.

Like some classic rock bands, there’s a definite funk styling and frontman Danny Stevens has a real soul-inspired delivery. The Audition seem to have found a sound like places them firmly in the arena-rock category, and there’s not a song on this EP that I can’t see booming out around a festival or Wembley Arena – it just sounds 'big'. The groove-tastic "Evil" is a prime example of this, begging for audience involvement and proffering a real invitation to get dancing. It’s the ballad "You Gotta Believe" that shows the band moving on furthest however, though this, ironically, takes the form of channeling Whitesnake and other 80s’ power ballad merchants.

It’s progression by looking backwards, not the oxymoron it initially seems The Audition has put their funky, soul-inspired brand of rock and roll to its natural limits and crafted a true rock record. There’s not a missed step on these six tracks, and Stevens' soaring vocal words deserves much credit for branding this EP with such a unique identity.

4/5

"Chapter II" is out now.

Nick Robbins