Trails – Signs (E.P)

Summary: Solid E.P which doesn't quite hit the heights that I'm sure they can reach.

4

Trails – Signs.

Trails release the long awaiting E.P ‘Signs’. Was it worth the wait? or are they ‘trailing’ behind?

If you excuse the terrible pun, Signs is a solid E.P, filled with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, tight riffage and frantic drumming, but unfortunately runs out of stream towards the end.

Trails first appeared on my radar after the release of the simply brilliant ‘A Turn of Phrase’, a combination of obscure time signatures, mathcore guitar lines and a huge chorus. It had pretty much everything I wanted to hear in an upcoming bands single release, so I’ve been patiently waiting since. That was a year ago, and a year is a long time in the unsigned scene, but this doesn’t seem to have fazed Trails.

Admittedly, I didn’t think much of lead single and E.P opener SHT FKR on first listen, but as part of the E.P it makes more sense, and it’s straight-forward power rock approach is a great start, instantly perking up your ears for the rest of the record. Can’t Slow Down is more like the sound I expected from the E.P, sounding like a more technical version of Biffy Clyro with a different vocalist. Sam Hopper’s voice is instantly likeable mind you, and whilst it lacks variation at times, it fits these songs perfectly. The breakdown of Can’t Slow Down is a particularly highlight also, showing that they have what it takes to hold their own against heavier bands in the scene.

It’s All Gone opens with a great variation of your typical ballad opening. Adam Rains drum grooves detract from the tried and tested formula of a ballad, and whilst the track doesn’t feel like it goes where you wish it did, it’s still a solid track.

Unfortunately, the title track let’s the E.P down in my opinion. Whilst I know there is a market for this style of music (think Gallows with less distortion), I don’t think it suits Trails, and Sam Hopper can’t hold his own when screaming the lyrics out. The same goes for the intro to Sinatra. What should sound heartfelt comes across as forced, and the song doesn’t really go anywhere after this.

It’s a shame, because the first 3 tracks on this record really seemed to nail the genre they were fitting themselves into, and whilst nothing quite hit the technical heights I wanted, they were definitely onto something. As a 3 track single, it’s a 4.5, but as a 5 track E.P it has to be marked down to a 4.

However, I still look forward to seeing what Trails do next, and this E.P should definitely help them in achieving the success that they deserve.

You can catch Trails on tour @

28th Feb – Guildford, Rubix w/ Funeral For A Friend

1st March – York, TBC

2nd March – Liverpool, The Elevator

5th March – Cardiff, Full Moon

6th March – Bristol, TBC

7th March – Ipswich, The Swan

8th March – Dundee, Kage

9th March – Edinburgh, Bannermans

14th March – Southampton, Avondale House

17th March – London, Dublin Castle