The Holden twins’ (Joe and Alex) vocals are layered all over Manchester trio Forty Four Hours’ melodic rock. Before the bouncy tunes have a moment to settle, it’s these vocals that immediately draw attention. Inherently soulful, it gives the sound – that still shares some stylistic intent with Mallory Knox and Don Broco – its own distinctive style. Completed by drummer Alix Foden, Forty Four Hours also have a lot to say.
“‘Only Just Holding On’ really comes from a time when we as band really were just that: only just holding on, with situations in our personal lives and even this little band of ours,” explains vocalist, keyboardist and bassist Joe Holden. “So yeah, it is a little dark in places. It covers so many themes, from struggling to cope with mental illness to being too scared to write this record. It displays a lot of pain but turns each into a positive, so writing the whole thing was really cathartic process. I feel that we’ve said a lot of stuff that we felt we needed to be said and can only hope people understand it and enjoy it.”
‘Only Just Holding On’ will be self-released on the 22nd January 2016. For more on Forty Four Hours, head to Facebook.
JANUARY
24 NEWCASTLE Head Of Steam
25 MANCHESTER Rebellion
26 BIRMINGHAM The Flapper
27 CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
28 BRIGHTON Komedia
29 CHELTENHAM 2 Pigs