Brave Rival 5 To 4 EP Review

Brave Rival the award winning Portsmouth band release their new EP named 5 to 4 that is the band’s first release as a four-piece. Produced by Tarrant Shepherd and recorded at Mayfair Studio, Churt, as well as Global Fire Studios in Fareham, the sessions were professionally filmed for a stunning series of music videos. 

Brave Rival are Lindsey Bonnick (lead vocals), Donna Peters (drums, percussion, acoustic guitar, vocals), Ed ‘the Shred’ Clarke (guitars, vocals), and Billy ‘Danger’ Dedman (bass guitar, vocals).

Photo used with thanks and credited to Global Fire Creative.

The follow up to last year's superb Fight Or Flight album that saw the band win a slew of UK Blues awards, including Band of the Year 2025 is split into 2 parts with 5 original tracks in full electric mode with the 3 following being acoustic interpretations of the former tracks.

Showing off a more classic rock feel with blues leanings the band show a willingness to evolve and the music contained within is happy to divulge this with repeated listens.

Let Me Rock N'Roll is the perfect opener to introduce the band and it's fast paced groove with it's big guitar riff and chorus will be a fantastic show opener too in the live setting.

First single Poison is groove laden with a brilliant chorus built for arena singalongs and sees Lindsey now the sole lead vocal a chance to shine with her rich melodic tone and held notes a speciality. Ed fits a perfectly matched guitar solo that does what it needs to and leaves.

Try Again is a near 8 minute masterpiece that builds from acoustic beginnings with Lindsey owning with a vocal from deep within and notes to match. After a minute the band kick in with slide guitar from Ed and a slow groove that builds up through more slide from Ed and Lindsey's held notes into a big chorus with Lindsey in full control. Light and shade after as the acoustic riff reappears in electric form and back to an even bigger version of the chorus from Lindsey. Ed then solo's with poise and control and shows himself to be one of the UK's finest new guitar talents. A mid song band breakdown with Lindsey vocal add libbing and more Ed soloing alongside Lindsey this will be killer live and is a blues rock classic in the here and now.

Control sets the pace to fast again with the rhythm team of Donna and Billy holding it all together and Ed's guitar riff insistent in it's simplicity and after seeing the band with FM recently another one that kicks hard in the live setting. Lindsey has more held notes showing she has full control of a wonderful instrument.

Wild Child sees a different drum groove in the verse from Donna before they floor the chorus with the big guitar riff and vocals meshing perfectly. Ed again shows his talents with a guitar solo full of dexterity and it really is 5 out of 5 for winners on this ep.

The acoustic songs start with a faithful version of Poison that in this purest form of guitar and vocal is superb. Linsey is spell blindingly fantastic with plenty of held notes and melodic intent and showcases her vocal range to its full potential.

Control is up next and a little faster paced and again just with guitar and vocal in it's purest form is superb.

Wild Child is played like a barroom boogie with a bit of a rock a billy edge to it with ed on slide guitar and Lindsey is at her majestic best with held notes and revelling in all it's splendour before a mid song band workout and shows the band can do all styles and all with a huge smile on their faces.

30 minutes goes past in a flash with Brave Rival stretching their wings as a 4 piece and succeeding emphatically and I look forward to their continued growth into one of the UK's finest new bands.

 
5 to 4 will be released Fri 17th Oct on CD, Vinyl (in four limited edition colour variants), and Digital Download.

 
Pre Orders are live now. Pre order your physical copy from https://store.braverival.com/ 

The band have recently been out on tour supporting FM, followed by a launch gig for the EP at the legendary 100 Club in London on 15th October 2025. The band continue on with their own headline UK tour into 2026.
  
 Tickets Open now via https://wegottickets.com/event/659374