Arrays is JP Carroll, a multi-instrumentalist man of many talents, and here we have his new single No Way Out in all its foot-stomping, head-banging and dance-inducing quality.
From the very first drop of sound, it's evident that this song is not going to disappoint. The hard-hitting tempo gives an adrenaline rush within moments, taking you right to the edge of fight-or-flight territory. The aggressive undertones move through your veins and before you know it, you are not just listening to a song, you are completely enveloped within the music itself.
There's no doubt about it, No Way Out is heavy, insistent and substantial. It's orderly disorder at its finest, and so much more than just a song - it's a journey. The music weaves its way around corners before speeding up on the straights; taking air as it traverses over mountainous terrain before diving down over the other side. Upon reaching its destination, you can't help but push the play button again. It's at that point where the realisation of addiction kicks in, devouring everything else in its wake.
The lyrics also tell a story of their own; it's about "those moments when you're trying to help someone, and they are shut off to any solution you can offer" - something I am sure many of us can relate to.
No Way Out is a track worthy of a high ranking, so 5 stars it is.
Arrays is the solo studio project of JP Carroll - the archetypal one man band. JP writes, performs and arranges the songs, records and produces the tracks, and even handles the mixes by himself. Music is his obsession, from writing a song, to mixing it and releasing it.
The new album Light Years is a tour de force of melodic, guitar heavy, metal-infused rock. This record is proudly independent, self produced and funded, and another way point on the journey JP is on to achieving the sound he hears in his head.
No Way Out presents a visceral, aggressive aspect of Arrays, driven by a palm muted riff, before the syncopated, stomping bridge lands. Little Blue Dot reveals a softer side, until the anthemic final chorus. Home is a twisted time capsule for our shared experience in lockdown, and the title track sets off the record with introspective lyrics and an arrangement big and wide enough to carry them.