The Fores at this year’s I.P.O. in Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

For both Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, it could be argued that sport, no matter the game, is perhaps higher on the agenda that adding too much more of their independent and well crafted ideological contribution to the way of life in England and the U.K. as whole. The Midland counties may boast of two of the more iconic music venues in the country in the Leicester De Montfort Hall and Nottingham Rock City but the amount of musical groups and artists that spring to mind and with ease is perhaps completely undervalued.

The beauty of the Independent Pop Overthrow at The Cavern is what it brings to the attention of the mass of humanity that make their way to Liverpool in search of another band to take the brutality of life out for a long lingering walk to a motorway and leave the beige whimpering at the side with a sign around its neck proclaiming its merits to those who embrace boredom.

For boredom is not on offer as the combined talent from Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire fuse together in the form of The Fores, a foursome of power and industry, an industry that creates enough power to have Ofwat look into them as a viable source of cashflow to take on the companies bleeding the country dry and one that is a hell of lot more safe to sell abroad.

The songs were more explosive than a barrel full of dynamite left at the scene of a Wild West bank heist and more controlled than a person balancing a pint of £100 a glass champagne on their head whilst walking through a china shop displaying the notice, all damages will be paid for. Tracks such as Last Train to Freedom, Nothing Lasts That Long, I Got It, Movers and Shakers and the killer finale of Let Go were greeted with passion and deep thoughtfulness to check out the band out further.

The East Midlands may be thought of as the poorer half of the industrial Rock heartbeat, losing out to Wolverhampton and Birmingham in people’s affections when it comes to adulation of the power cord and the effective boom of a well positioned drum beat but that doesn’t mean the area shouldn’t be mined for all its worth, the potential for such musical riches is out there in the heartlands of the East Midlands, it just needs bring to the fore.

May The Fores be with you at a venue very soon, they will not disappoint.

Ian D. Hall