Jono Moulds checks out the new single from DARE, for The Rock & Roll Circus. "Born In The Storm" is taken from their forthcoming album “Road To Eden”, which will be released on CD & digital on April 1st, 2022 via Legend Records.
What a treat this is for me, as I see the new single by ‘Dare’, that being ‘Born in the Storm’ sitting in my inbox. I’ve not consciously listened to Dare for a number of years, for reasons, at this moment in time, I cannot easily explain away, but suffice is to say, that their debut album, ‘Out of the Silence’ still has a great deal of memories and emotion tied up in it for me, not least the songs themselves (belters such as ‘Abandon’, ‘Runaway’ and ‘King of Spades’, to name a few), which take me back to a different time and place, when my hair wasn’t so short and I had a great deal less silver in it.
And so, to the point in case, as I excitedly press the link to the new single, to not only compare the Dare from 2022 to that band of 1988, but ultimately, to check out their new material, albeit the only one from their new album, "Road to Eden", due out on 1st April 2022.
Guitar ‘chugging’ takes an early bow, with the distant strains of a smooth, underlying synth and some further guitar, adding sustained feedback, that comes in quietly, but soon builds as the main guitar/chord pattern emerges. And then, Wharton adds a series of ‘Whoahs’ and there it is, that unmistakable vocal, with its melodic tones, with a touch of grit that takes me back all those years. Fantastic!!!
By the time we hit the first verse, the band are in full bloom, the single has a great driving pace to it and as you’d expect, superb production, making each instrument crystal clear, but also, ‘melds’ them all together to give that distinct melodic soundscape.
‘Wharton’ sings ‘He was born in the storm – on a cold Winter dawn’ and immediately I’m thinking to myself, ‘he hasn’t lost it, not one bit’, as the vocal is strong and in fine fettle. I’ll also add at this stage that I always thought his voice to be underrated and could never understand how the band didn’t go onto more success than they did. Always generating great anthemic songs, with a clever commercial bent to them. An excellent band, no doubt.
Anyway, I digress, let’s get back to the single, the opening verse has all the elements you’d expect from ‘Dare’ that being, melodic, powerful, and immediately catchy. For me, there is an almost ‘Celtic’ feel to it, but I’ll leave that up to your judgement, when you check this out.
As the opening verse disperses, the pre-chorus kicks in, which must be said is equally as catchy as the verse, and at this stage, I can’t wait to hear the chorus, and when it arrives, I am not at all
disappointed.
The chorus is instant and hits you in the sweet spot with immediate effect as it’s plainly obvious why this was chosen as the leading single from the album.
There is another round of verse, pre-chorus, and chorus before we head into the guitar break. Of course, there’s intense melody and mood to it and sits within the song perfectly, as it never outstays it’s welcome. In fact, as we head out toward the sunset of the song, there is another reprise of that guitar solo, just in case you didn’t get enough, or felt the first helping wasn’t quite sufficient.
So, I asked the question, at the start of this review, how do ‘Dare’ compare to the one I knew and loved on their debut album in 1988 to that of the present-day band? Can they still deliver, top-notch melodic rock? How is ‘Wharton’s’ vocal? Well, my friends, everything is more than fine.
The single is everything and a bit more, and if you’re a long-time fan of the band or checking them out based on this review, you will not be disappointed. I’ve had a taster, so I’m now looking forward to the album release, and if I’m a lucky boy, I might just be asked to review it. Superb!!
Review by Jono Moulds
Dare are :-
DARREN WHARTON – VOCALS, KEYBOARDS
VINNY BURNS – GUITARS
NIGEL CLUTTERBUCK – BASS GUITAR
KEV WHITEHEAD – DRUMS
MARC ROBERTS – KEYBOARDS
PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM ON CD
PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM DIGITALLY
To promote the album, DARE also plan to tour the UK. These are all current dates (presented by Planet Rock & The Gig Cartel):
06.10.2022 UK-Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
07.10.2022 UK-Newcastle, The Cluny
08.12.2022 UK-Glasgow, The Garage
13.10.2022 UK-Bury St. Edmunds, The Apex
14.10.2022 UK-Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
15.10.2022 UK-Bilston, The Robin
21.10.2022 UK-Brighton, Shoreham Ropetackle
22.10.2022 UK-Southampton, 1865
23.10.2022 UK-Bristol, Fleece
27.10.2022 UK-London, 02 Academy Islington
28.10.2022 UK-Manchester, Academy
29.10.2022 UK-Newbury, Arlington, Arts Centre
Tickets go on general sale at 9am on Friday 14th January via Dare and seetickets
DARE
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Check out the official video for "Born In The Storm".
Ceri Davies
Presenter and Co-Director
