Brave At Last

           Hailing from Madera, California, Marcel Torres (Vocals/Guitar), Paul Milor (Bass/Vocals), Alex Ingram (Guitar/Vocals), and Jared Upton (Drums) come together to form Brave At Last.  Coming from various other bands and interests, they combine hard-punk, folk, and pop music together to create a strong and catchy sound, as is evident on their debut album, Overcomer.

          The song "Better Days" exemplifies their sound.  Beginning with a ringing guitar chord and a heavy drum beat, the song immediately reveals its punk roots.  An intro guitar solo soon gives way to the mildly gritty vocals of Marcel Torres.  As he sings on about starting again and having "seen better days", the drums hold a fast paced beat and the bass lays down a mellow and paced groove.  Overall, the energy of the song carries the listener through a story reminiscent of those found in Bruce Springsteen songs, with the addition of punk influence and pop sensibilities.  As the song fades out and the vocals reach a fever-pitch with chanting in the background, the listener is left with the hook resonating in their head and their foot tapping along to the beat.

          A notable departure from the above style, yet a high point of the album, "From Grace" adds variety and showcases the range of styles that Brave At Last is capable of utilizing.  The solo guitar, dirty with some distortion opens the track with bluesy, yet subdued licks.  Soon, Torres's vocals join in and the minimalist effect reached by his quiet, soulful voice and the chilled blues guitar is almost eerie.  Just when the listener begins to get used to this aesthetic, the guitar takes on a slightly harsher tone as the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar join the soundscape.  With the heavier sound, the blues-styled ballad opens up and Torres's voice rises to the occasion.  The song ends similar to how it started, stripped down to a lone guitar with Torres emoting the final line.

          Coming out of California, Brave At Last bring together aspects from the punk scene, blues, folk/country, and tie it all together with pop-esque hooks and riffs.  Their versatility of style and their ability to please the listener is apparent on Overcomer and I anticipate them garnering a strong following in the future.  Check out their music on their BandCamp page and head over to their Facebook to stay alert on their music.

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