Serena Joy

Rock Sound
Bands? Pah! It's all about 'collectives' nowadays. Serena Joy are one such entity, and this, their debut EP, packs more ideas into its 20-minute duration than many acts muster in a lifetime. From Murder Of-style spazzola ('Movement I') to agitated spoken-word ramblings ('Movement IV') via post rock ambience and sky torching screamo, there's certainly alot to take in, but to their credit the band (sorry, collective) carry it all off with considerable finesse. However, one does get the feeling that certain elements have been unduly curtailed. The swelling strings of 'Movement II' for instance, sound fantastic, but just as you're expecting some big climatic payoff, they fade away without resolve. Minor flaws aside, this is a promising first step towards greatness. (7/10)
Subba Cultcha
With the majestic, twisted glory of early These Arms Are Snakes, and the biting melodies of the supremely righteous Icarus Line all mixed with a chilling etherealness that makes SJ head and shoulders above their fellow all-bluster-no-identity semesters. Genius!
In It For The Money Zine
Something has been brewing in the Serena Joy camp for a while. Covertly stealing members from several defunct underground bands, including andtheywillriot! and Missiles of Uncertain Destinations, they've now burst back onto the scene as a formidable seven-piece band, incorporating a range of new instruments including a violin, keys and even a mini-accordion brought out especially for the live show. What's more, their new EP, holding the appropriately gallant title “Ours Will Be A Lonely Battle”, may well turn out to be the most brazenly epic thing you have ever heard!
Split into four tracks or “movements” this 20-minute cinematic composition voyages through dynamic late-90s screamo territory, taking in sprawling sections of weaving instrumentation and post-rock ambience. Narrated by a mixture of raw screaming vocals, harmonious female singing, snatches of background chatter and poignant laments, it draws to a memorable finale with an extended spoken-word passage residing behind driving instrumentation that gradually gathers intensity; an unwavering stream of consciousness, falling over itself to get the words out, and ultimately climaxing with a coming together of voices in the rousing sing-along:
"Victory is silent, but I hoped it would provide more answers than this. Darkness has fallen, into the light..."
Understated, it is not. But although victory appears to ring hollow for the protagonists at the heart of the record’s concept, for the band itself this is far from the truth. Overblown, but splendidly so; Ours Will Be A Lonely Battle indulges in many of the great aspects of music, raging war on tired and bloated genres by ripping them apart and pillaging the best bits - much as sadly defunct Scottish five-piece The Fall Of Boss Koala did so well. And, before you say it, yes - I am fully aware of the romanticised nature of some of the statements contained in this review, but when faced with an affair of such magnitude, just you try describing it without getting a little carried away!
Rock Midgets
There's seldom few acts out there at this moment in time who can genuinely claim to be doing something different. Sure everyone and their son declares that they're bravely branching out over previously unchartered territory, but very few actually are. Serena Joy don't make such arrogant proclamations, but their debut EP Ours Will Be A Lonely Battle points to an act that are intent on pushing both boundaries and preconceptions to the full.
Formed under a different guise back in 2002, Serena Joy are an ever evolving collection of like-minded artists. The fact that so many people bring their own influences to the table means that Ours Will Be A Lonely Battle is a rare release that can recall the cerebral prog-rock of The Mars Volta one second and the grandiose beauty of The Arcade Fire the next. 'Movement I' explodes the EP into action with an array of angular post-hardcore riffs, but it's the three remaining offerings truly elevate Serena Joy from the crowd. Tracks intertwine and build into glorious climaxes, floating along with delicate guitar lines and beguiling harmonies or schizophrenically igniting into apocalyptic riffs, the listener has no idea of what's hiding around the corner.
Ours Will Be A Lonely Battle is a fantastic statement of intent from an act who you just hope can carry on making music together and don't get overlooked because of their ever fluctuating line up and sporadic existence.
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