EP Review: Madina Lake - 'The Beginning of New Endings'

Who’d have thought that, after almost a decade-long hiatus, Madina Lake would return with a stormy, brand new EP? 

For many of us, the band is a true emblem of those nostalgic young and untamed teenage years. The raucous of “Here I Stand” reverberating through an indie nightclub back in 2007 is seared into a lot of peoples’ memories; they were widely celebrated amongst the collection of late-noughties indie rockers and, frankly, for good reason. Has much changed since then? Yes. So why are they back now? It’s simple: they have so much more to give.

In April this year, Madina Lake teased the EP with the feracious single “Playing With Fire”, which showed that the glimmer of what was once the charm of Madina Lake is still very much alive. But now, it’s with an alluring shimmer of modern rock sensibilities, giving it an undeniably fresh feel. “Love Is War”, a definite stand-out on the EP, imbues the instantly gripping catchiness and excitement of the punk pop era, showing that, once again, Madina Lake never lost its charisma. 

However, it’s “Tiny Weapons” that deserves attention, as a real representation of who the band is now, along with everything they’ve been through over the last nine years. It’s Madina Lake as raw as ever, delving deep lyrically and melodically into the frustration of the years gone by. This is Madina Lake reborn, and they’re just getting started.

"Ever since we bid the world our farewell in 2011, we've struggled to adjust to a life without writing, releasing, and performing music together," explains bassist Matthew Leone. His twin brother and frontman Nathan Leone adds, "Over the years, we've developed an unbreakable   bond with Madina fans all over the world and we're thrilled to reconnect through new music."

Words by Kelly Scanlon

---