The Band: ACRES OF LIONS

The Album Release: ‘COLLECTIONS’

The Formats: COMPACT DISC & DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

The Release Date: NOVEMBER 26TH 2012

The Labels: FIERCE PANDA & ALCOPOP!

The Tracklisting: 1 ‘SET ME ON FIRE’; 2 ‘FINGERS CROSSED’; 3 ‘REACTION’; 4 ‘KIDS’; 5 ‘FORGIVE AND FORGET’; 6 ‘CELEBRATION’; 7 ‘NARROW MISS’; 8 ‘LIKE A DRUM’; 9 ‘ALL YOUR TIME’; 10 ‘COLLECTIONS’

Canadian heartbreak rockers Acres Of Lions consist of Jeff Kalesnikoff (vocals, guitar), Tyson Yerex (keyboard, guitar), Dan Ball (bass) and Shane Deyotte (drums). They are based in Victoria, Canada, coyly describe themselves as ‘a pop-rock band’ and have cannily hooked up with not one, but two labels – Alcopop! and fierce panda - for this, the UK release of their second album. ‘Collections’. The panda brings the beefy biscuits, Alcopop! bring the indiepowerpop panache.

As a way of ingratiating themselves with the united kids of the United Of Kingdom Acres Of Lions have put up five tracks which are free to download for a limited time only from http://acresoflions.com/uksampler/ - and not only that but excellent ‘Collections’ track ‘Kids’ is available to experience over at http://soundcloud.com/acresoflions/kids

‘Collections’ was launched in Acres Of Lions’ home wilderness late last year. It is a broken-heart-on-sleeve collection aha of taut-fitting tunes with driving guitars, delicate pianos and subtle-yet-heroic choruses. Listeners of a certain age may hear flashes of ‘90s era collegiate rocksters like Buffalo Tom and Gigolo Aunts in there. Listeners of a slightly different rage may recall the emo years of the early noughties when The Get Up Kids and Jimmy Eat World made grown men creep. Musical lovers with very little rage whatsoever may even feel some of that Snow Patrol emotion in the odd sorrowful climax.

Whatever your musical poison, rather generously Acres Of Lions have provided a handy entrance point to ‘Collections’. It’s called ‘Reaction’, its glowing pop stomp encapsulates the Lions’ enthusiasm and effervescence and it has a rather excellent video lurking over at www.acresoflions.com/videos/ right now.

As well as a ringing, zinging future they have some cool history as well, do Acres Of Lions: their debut ‘Working’ album in 2009 set out their stealthily melodic stall; parts of the Lions’ lion-up has toured with Against Me!; last year they travelled the lengthy length of Canada in support of Ten Second Epic; this year they have played domestic festivals such as North Vancouver’s Summerfest, Toronto’s Edgefest and Sonic Boom in Edmonton, and spent much of the summer on a government-backed 80 day tour around the province of British Columbia. Next up, mere nanoseconds before they head back into the studio to record their third album, they make their second trip to Blighty in November to play these shows here...

NOVEMBER 9TH LONDON CAMDEN Barfly (Jubilee Club)

NOVEMBER 10TH BRISTOL Fear Of Fiction Festival

NOVEMBER 17TH LONDON SHOREDITCH Old Blue Last

NOVEMBER 18TH WATFORD The White Lion (matinee show with The Social Club)

NOVEMBER 20TH LONDON HIGHBURY Buffalo Bar (with Buffalo Ink)

http://acresoflions.com/collections/
www.ilovealcopop.co.uk