Ireland has never really had a strong affinity with hard rock and metal music. Sure, it has a definite audience here but as a music scene it’s never really asserted itself on the musical landscape of our society. We’ve had many indie rock triumphs and of course the stadium filling clout of U2, Snow Patrol and The Script to make ourselves heard on the world stage, but sadly the nation’s metallers have no strong voice to fly the flag for Ireland.

It would be a stretch to say that Watch The Sky and their self- titled EP will go on to change this, but for a band so young there is much here to admire about their contribution to a scene that these days does little else than breed mediocrity. Things get off to a promising start with Thoughts and it’s a winning formula the band stick to for the most part; up-paced hard rock with a satisfying lean towards the metal end of the scale. It’s well executed and falls into the not entirely undesirable territory of English emo troops like Idlewild or Hundred Reasons with a little more crunch.

Thinks kick on nicely with Cheers For The Wake Up Call. Another energetic jaunt with a neat little guitar solo, it wisely doesn’t deviate from the dependable template of Thoughts. Watch The Sky is probably the most direct offering here. Catchy and powerful, it’s an indication of the band’s potential despite being a long way off the finished article. The only real misstep here is the token power rock ballad of Take a Breath. The softer side of the band leaves time and space to focus on the lyrics for the first time which is unfortunately not a positive. Stripped of the aggression, the lyrics are nothing but a mish-mash of empty sentimentality and the vocal delivery itself is never convincing.

What’s on offer here is hardly a beacon of originality, but it is an impressive start considering the youth that makes up Watch The Sky. While they lack in innovation, they carry themselves across the finish line with energy and an enthusiasm that is commendable. Bearing in mind the complacency within the hard rock scene in this country, it’s something to be admired.