With the nationwide venue closures having poleaxed a British tour alongside Ryders Creed back in the spring, These Wicked Rivers use an empty Denmark Street Studios in Maidenhead to belatedly ignite the promotion of their critically acclaimed debut album, Eden. These audience-free performances are often soulless affairs, and while any rare gaps between songs do sound a little awkward, the band have sufficient energy and oomph to fill the void.
Combining the emotive grit of southern rock with a sludgy bottom end, openers Shine On and Evergreen quickly set the tone for the night. These two songs and others such as Floyd and Won’t Be Broken are founded on generous hook-lines, while the slow-burning When The War Is Won and World In Chains TWR reveal an understated alter-ego.