Jobie's Bite-Sized Music Reviews #43: Battle Scars (EP) - Paradise Fears
- arrangednoisefan
- Jun 28, 2022
- 2 min read
Recommended
Battle Scars is a 2013 indie rock EP by the alternative rock band Paradise Fears. The EP's main theme revolves around the eponymous battle scars, as well as themes of overcoming tough times. The EP's sound can best be described as a mix between anthem-like indie rock and acousticesque songs. The EP is opened by the song “Intro (Prelude)”, setting up the sound of the rest of the EP with its motivational rap and indie rock elements. The song “Battle Scars” is one of the most anthemic songs on the EP, with an uplifting chorus that culminates in a motivational rap, before continuing its uplifting chorus. The song “Lullaby” is a sort of acoustic-classical-rock hybrid, mixing elements of all three genres in its instrumentation. (An acoustic guitar, violins, and drums). There's also the more piano-focused, slow-paced “Used”, which matches the tone of the song pretty well. Vocally, Miller contributes good vocals to this EP. This is especially apparent on the track “Used”, where Miller's voice glides through the soft instrumentation in a very smooth manner. The rap portions on this EP work more than you would probably think; they don't feel out of place for this genre or this type of instrumentation. It also helps that the delivery of the rap portions is better than you might think. Lyrically, the EP revolves around the aforementioned themes of battle scars and overcoming tough times. This can be illustrated with the lyrics to the song “Battle Scars”: “I'll carry you home/No, you're not alone/Keep marching on/This is worth fighting for/You know we've all got battle scars”. Most of the EP has lyrics such as these, with the exception of the tracks “Fought for Me” and “Used”, which revolve less around motivational lyrics like these, and more around the singer's personal struggles. The song “Used”, for example, is about the aftermath of the end of a relationship the singer was in: “Singing ohhhh, you played me like a fool/You took what you needed and left me here jaded and used”. I regard the EP as being well-written. Though there are a lot of good moments on this EP, “Battle Scars” is certainly the best track on the EP. Though Paradise Fears attempt many other motivational songs in the same vein as “Battle Scars” on this EP, they never quite match the anthemic chorus of “Battle Scars”, nor do they execute the rap portions as well as “Battle Scars” does. My favorite tracks from Battle Scars are “Intro (Prelude)”, “Battle Scars”, and “Fought for Me”. Overall, Battle Scars is a good indie rock EP from Paradise Fears. With a mix of acousticesque and indie rock instrumentation, rap portions that work surprisingly well, and motivational lyrics, there a several good moments on this EP. However, “Battle Scars”, the eponymous song on the EP, surpasses the rest of the tracks on the EP, with its anthemic chorus and well-executed rap portion.
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