Thanks to a firmly built live reputation, this Sheffield quartet are hardly new to proceedings, and here on 'Patience is Strength' they’ve established a strong sound of their own before even releasing a full LP.
Hailing from the crowded Sheffield scene, Alvarez Kings sound remarkably fresh with more creative ideas than you can shake your finger at. Vocally, the songs on here vary from anthemic ('You, Me, Them, Us') to urgent ('Patience is Strength'), but it is musically that the band will perhaps surprise many.
Unlike the wave of one-dimensional indie-pop groups in the UK at the moment, the Kings use dynamics to great effect here. The five songs on this EP are all snappy and melodic, but each has their own unique slant that makes for a rounded listen. Rhythmically, the title track is particularly original; a frantic 16ths drum line adding to the urgency to the song nicely. The guitar sequences throughout the EP work are a particular highlight, being more reminiscent of Foals than the Pigeon Detectives.
In fact, to call Alvarez Kings merely indie-pop does not do them justice. There’s enough rhythmic and harmonic experimentation here to sustain repeated listens. Their strongest tunes could perhaps be accented a little more, especially if they are to follow in the footsteps of some of the big names they’ve supported such as Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party. There is a definite whiff of potential on 'Patience is Strength' though. They’ll be ones to watch in 2011.
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Unlike the wave of one-dimensional indie-pop groups in the UK at the moment, the Kings use dynamics to great effect here. The five songs on this EP are all snappy and melodic, but each has their own unique slant that makes for a rounded listen. Rhythmically, the title track is particularly original; a frantic 16ths drum line adding to the urgency to the song nicely. The guitar sequences throughout the EP work are a particular highlight, being more reminiscent of Foals than the Pigeon Detectives. 
