Bad Sign - ‘Live & Learn’

It was always going to be tough following up 2014’s excellent ‘Destroy’ EP, but thankfully Croydon riff-dealers Bad Sign’s debut album is as gloriously heavy as it is gut-wrenchingly candid.

Again produced by Neil Kennedy (Creeper, Milk Teeth), ‘Live & Learn’ sees them elevating their post-hardcore foundation to a level that could win over rock radio; contrasting their driving power and bone-rattling basslines (‘Covenant’, ‘Square One’) with explosive hooks and atmospheric touches, all laced with vocals of soul-baring sincerity (‘Closure’, ‘October’).

With this kind of wild ambition, the trio could have a bright future.