Durham post-hardcore band Battle To exile sound quite a bit like Fightstar. There are heavy bits and lighter bits, underpinned by some solid vocal melodies. Perhaps not as good as Fightstar, but a decent prospect nonetheless. This four-tracker is listed as a demo, but it’s a well recorded and put together demo if that’s the case. Opener ‘The Art of Adaptation’ swings through a few different moods and is a solid opener. ‘Prescription Says…’ isn’t quite so solid, although it features some handy guitar work and again the vocals are pretty good. What I do like about this band is the fact they don’t overdo the shouting and screaming and, as a result, it’s more effective when they do it. There are plenty of harmonies and the choruses are good without ever being great. If you like FFAF at their most melodic and bands such as Fightstar then these guys will be ones to check out.
