12.04.2009 - 'For The Family' Review - Toxicpete.co.uk

Church & Destroy are an acoustic duo from Herefordshire; I suppose they're in the same kinda place as Billy Bragg, y'know, that rugged, working-class British folk kinda thing - all brutal honesty and take no prisoners folk!


Of the seven tracks offered here five are Church & Destroy originals and the boys have included two covers for good measure. Not bad song writing actually - there's potential there that perhaps needs honing just a tad but generally they're on the right track!! As far as the execution's concerned, there are a few 'tuning' issues now and again in the vocals department and the incessantly dark sounding acoustic guitar could do with an injection of brighter dynamics occasionally just to lift things a little. But, if Church & Destroy are genuinely going for the dark and mournful side of the acoustic equation then it's all pretty much on-target really. Certainly, Church & Destroy seem to have a penchant for the slightly morose in their words so I guess dark strumming is a perfectly acceptable accompaniment!

This is very much 'real-time' acoustic stuff - I guess Church & Destroy don't want to mislead anyone with studio over-lays and double-tracking etc - what they can't do live I guess they don't want to do on disc!! Hey that's cool cuz these boys are young and still learning their 'trade'. Anyway, as a demo or as a piece of promotional material 'For The Family' does a reasonable job; it should certainly get the guys some work in the acoustic clubs but they're gonna struggle to push it much further with this as their main tool of introduction. It's very stripped-back and amateurish and therefore just lacks a bit of studio oomph, that extra dynamic, that bit of professionalism that would lift the whole feel. That said, Church & Destroy have done a reasonable job on their own!

Church & Destroy are Daniel Smith (vocals) and Calvin Duggan (guitar) and there's clearly a bit of musical chemistry between the two friends and they seem to be striving for the same things. 'For The Family' by Church & Destroy is a pretty lo-fi and very honest piece of work that demonstrates musical fortitude and ambition and what the duo lack in hard-gigging experience they more than make up for in passion and drive. This EP is a workmanlike starter for Church & Destroy; it's very much a what you see is what you get release but I think there's plenty more to come yet from the Church & Destroy boys!

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