Song of the Day: The Joy Formidable, “This Ladder Is Ours”

 

The Joy Formidable released their second full-length Wolf’s Law today (yesterday in their native UK), and it’s a monster of a rock album. Taking the foundation laid by the band on 2011’s excellent The Big Roar—loud, distorted, multi-layered guitars, with almost equal nods to shoegaze and Britpop—Wolf’s Law adds another layer to the band’s already complex-yet-accessible sound. Vocalist/guitarist Ritzy Bryan is at the forefront, her powerful voice and virtuoso guitar skills serving as the catalysts for the band’s emotive music.

 

“This Ladder Is Ours” is the lead single from Wolf’s Law, and has been floating around on radio for a while now. It’s a solid showcase of the Joy Formidable’s ability to create catchy music with such an unconventional veneer. The video, in which the band play inside an abandoned building while a dust storm violently swirls around them, is also really cool.

—Bryne Yancey