Band Review: The Elephant Trees, Leeds
For fans of Paramore, Hole, …

Marmozets, Ed Sheeran, Biffy Clyro, Laura Marling, Paramore. Put them all in a big bowl, mash them together, drop them in Leeds, and you get two high-quality singles from Leeds Alt-Rockers The Elephant Trees. Having missed their debut single launch at The Wardrobe in early March I re-stumbled across them through their Gigride profile over the weekend and have subsequently realised how much I wished I could’ve been there 4 months ago. Their two tracks, ’90 Degrees’ and newcomer ‘Monster’, may be wildly different but they’re unashamedly “bangers”, and still work well together when played back-to-back. Two years of honing their skills onstage with upwards of 80 gigs has clearly also translated into a talent for writing quality songs.

‘Monster’, the band’s recent single, is slow to build, teasing you with the finale that you know is coming but don’t dare to pre-empt. After 2-and-a-half minutes of goading, T.E.T punch me in the face with a chorus that wouldn’t seem out of place on ‘Riot’ or ‘Brand New Eyes’, back in the day when Paramore held a place in my 14-year-old emo heart (for the record those albums still do hold that place, and that 14-year-old will never die within me). And yet, as much as there is clear influence from one of the most recognisable female fronted bands in the world, the vocals (especially in the verses) seem to glide through the song as Ed Sheeran does on ‘Sing’. It’s a unique combination of intelligent song-writing when it is needed, and the acceptance that when you build up a song to a big climax, you better make sure no one forgets what they just heard.
Heading back in time 4 months, we arrive at their debut ’90 Degrees’. More riff-centred, faster, energetic, it shows that the Leeds 4-Piece are dynamic. They have in their first single, a song that you can’t avoid nodding your head to — you can feel the song just like you can feel a Marmozets/Hands Off Gretel track, but also you’re consciously aware of elements of pop groups from across the pond. It’s a distinctive blend of hard-n-heavy and groovy pop that just works! In two singles The Elephant Trees have proved that they can span genres whilst maintaining a unique sound, and that is no mean feat.

August 9th, 2017 — Coopers, Guiseley, Leeds
August 11th, 2017 — Headrow House, Leeds
September 30th, 2017 — The Parish, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
90 Degrees: 8/10
Monster: 9/10
