Regional One - Smoke It Away


Regional One, a heavy-hitting, hard rocking band from Bournemouth, return with an anthem designed for dense, sweaty crowds to sing the words back at them when gigs have returned as they always were. With a stream of singles over the last few years - including the metallic 'Dead Silence' (which Ben reviewed last year) - they're slowly but surely making a name for themselves as an essential modern rock band in the South of England. 'Smoke It Away' may well be their catchiest and most refined tune yet. The start of something really big for Regional One? Only time will tell!

Regional One set the tone with the classic-sounding setup of gently strummed guitar chords, soft vocal humming and a pounding kick drum - by their new addition behind the kit, Aaron Levens - to let the listeners know that they're in for a banger. With cheeky, smutty, tongue-in-cheek lyrics that would initially suggest that vocalist Simon Ball is talking about a lady friend, the 'little green monster' that takes the subject of the song quickly becomes apparent instead. You know the one I mean. 

With a catchy chorus, stomping verses and a big, healthy dose of fun that is too often lost amongst surly-faced contemporary rock acts, Regional One set themselves out to not take themselves too seriously and just enjoy the raw power of the music. Simon hits an impressive high note as the band go into a tight, controlled instrumental section that serves the song nicely, with no bandmembers going over the top or doing more than the song asks. The tempo drops to a half-time feel for the last chorus. It's hugely effective and is what really makes the song stay in your head long after it grinds to a halt.

Get your lighters in the air for this one, lads.

MN

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