The Rolling People have released their second EP, Before It’s Gone and it’s a great example of how to make every track feel deserving of a place on a record. Each of the six songs are well crafted making this short listening experience feel full and packed with memorable, anthemic tunes.
‘I’ll Be There’ kicks the journey off. Featuring the classic alt-rock instrumentation of bass, drums and guitars, which in this instance are doing power chords, it’s a strong opener. The angsty riff that comes in towards the end flawlessly accompanies the rougher, gravelly singing which appears across the rest of the song.
There is a seamless transition into track two, ‘Grateful for Nothing’, which begins with a long instrumental intro. In this time you become acquainted with the idea that this composition is more emotive, and when the vocals come into play 45 seconds in, they sound clearer than in the previous song. This allows you to really hear the raw emotion behind each word, perfectly highlighting the intended tone.
‘Before It’s Gone’, which also lends its title to the EP, is a fairly guitar heavy track. This certainly seems to be a key element of The Rolling People’s sound, including a range of guitar solos in a number of their tracks. This is further evident in ‘The Thief’ which instantly opens with a galloping riff, packing the same energy and feeling of Muse’s Knights of Cydonia. As the vocals build up in the song, you are left in anticipation to hear the catchy, rhythmic hook again, which delivers everytime it comes around.
‘No Place to Be’ is another example of livelier songs being followed up by something more relaxed, much like with the first two tracks. This is a great way to ensure that the EP has a noticeable amount of variety. Tonally the song feels more laid back, but instrumentally there is still plenty going on. Within the song there is a juxtaposition of the loud and quiet, as there are softer moments that elevate into something significantly punchier. The lengthier guitar solo that the song ends with is where this is most evident and when it comes to an abrupt end, you are left feeling robbed of what could have been an even longer, even more epic solo.
As the EP winds down, the acoustic version of ‘Better Man’ leaves listeners on a much gentler note. With the limited instrumentation, the vocals sound even stronger than on the original version the band released in 2023. Using a song people already know ends the album on a familiar note, whilst still keeping it fresh by making it acoustic.
Although The Rolling People are young, they have developed a sound like that of industry professionals, which is an impressive feat. They have a consistent sound throughout this EP and a full length album would have really delved into this, which is why the release of an album is sure to be well received and highly anticipated in times ahead.
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