Coming up trumps once more, Holy Roar Records play their winning hand with relative newcomers Up River. Holding a sound that is best described as post-hardcore with smatterings of melodic indie rock (it’s in the guitars) and possessing a front figure who passes a slight resemblance to Ian Curtis judging by the engaging video accompanying lead track ‘Confide’, leaving all bets postponed as to one likely source of inspiration being Joy Division, Up River is likely to please fans of More Than Life and Touché Amore as they are of those in tune with various melancholic and equally passionate indie bands. Comparisons aside, Up River deliver a debut album that is concise in its decisions as the impact of their creativity is immediate as demonstrated by the desolate-sounding chords slowly prising open the contents of first song, ‘Youth’. The robust assault of ‘Withdrawal’ follows with equal fervour before chiming itself out on a singular guitar and falling into the net of ‘Growing Pains’ that is portrayed compellingly with a vocal that is fatigued and fighting for its survival. ‘Cipher’ and its successor ‘The Weight’ provide two short, sharp jabs to the senses of raw emotion with guitars and drums rumbling and colliding. The previously mentioned ‘Confide’ allows for a brief respite, tilting back and forth on its heels at various intervals as if steadying itself before the next push which reveals further variation with the instrumental ‘Respite’. On this evidence, Up River will bypass with ease any incoming tides such is the authority and depth of debut album ‘Undertow’.