Whether Grace Under Pressure have lifted their name from fellow countrymen Rush, we'll never know, but their debut EP Against The Lights suggests they're more than capable of stepping up to the mark.

Female fronted rock bands are two a penny, but what's key is attitude, belief and of course substance. And Grace Under Pressure, in bass wielding frontwoman Melody Dante, have a singer who presses all the right buttons. And the same goes for the band - Jesse Slingsby (guitar), Dan Nelson (guitar), and Kevin Mark (drums).

With 7 tracks running over 27 minutes - a format that seems to becoming increasingly popular format in these austere times - Against The Lights is more of a mini album and it's the perfect calling card for a band who have been likened to a harder Heart or Evanescence.

Those comparisons are probably a little wide of the mark, but the band's punchy sound that comes from a love of eighties rock, some excellent playing, and above all great songs is a winning formula for anyone with a passion for gutsy female fronted rock with a commercial edge.

****

Review by Pete Whalley