Amongst the Arrows @ Bar Bloc

Four-strong Amongst The Arrows explore thrashing guitars and bittersweet melodies like Codeseven in their early prime; they delight further with more rhythm and mood changes than you can shake an appreciative fist at, in a style only surpassed by bands like progressive Oxford outfit Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies. Listeners will find themselves carried along by pulsating drums and riffs now churning, now mingling gracefully, and will be pleasantly surprised to hear themselves humming catchy hooks long after the deluge is over. Tonight's opener, Let's Steal Behind Doors is an immediate attention-grabber, with a meandering structure and a compelling vocal, alternating between delicacy and soaring cries. The Moon Loves No-one is another highlight, and it's clear these boys have adventurous songwriting skills: they should let loose their experimental potential and see where it takes them. Amongst The Arrows is an impressive band that deserves more attention than it seems to have received so far. [Adam Ketterer]