New Band of The Day: Various Cruelties

Various Cruelties are a band with an idiosyncratic sound that shouldn’t work, but their combination of indie rock and soul is delightfully original and toe tappingly catchy. The band cites a wide range of influences for their style, with artists such as Etta James, Otis Redding and Primal Scream amongst their list of inspirations.

Their single, 'Chemicals' contains jittery, typically indie guitar riffs, but the chorus brings a soulful twist on their sound as they gracefully compliment frontman Liam O’Donnell’s impassioned vocals to create an anthemic track that is beyond their years.

The band’s second single 'The Great Unknown' is a more radio-friendly track. Its slow, dreamy sound builds to a huge chorus in which O’Donnell asks ‘Do we fade out, or burn like the sun?’ highlighting the sense of uncertainty in his lyrics, yet contrasting the power and assured confidence of his vocals. As the song comes to an end you'll find yourself singing along to its infectious chorus, which is memorable even on a first listen.

2011 was a big year for the band, as the band opened for Kasabian on their tour, and landed an appearance on Later with Jools Holland. With the band gaining such attention, the release of their debut album this year is set to draw serious attention from the music industry as the band seek to transform hype into success.