The Amazons: The Amazons album review – cookie-cutter indie debut

The first warning is that standard-issue indie-band name, nicked from a legendary race of superwomen by four young men from Reading. The second is opener Stay With Me, which barrels in like a generic version of the Vaccines, minus the active ingredient. The rest of this radio-ready debut is a solid base of Razorlight (Holy Roller, Junk Food Forever) and late Kings of Leon (Burn My Eyes), with occasional harder rock topnotes. The songwriting is cookie-cutter, resorting too often to hammering, basic riffs and crashing cymbals; the lyrics are banal, frequently descending into woah-ohh-ohh. They have youth and energy on their side; let’s hope they can do better.