With The Boxer Rebellion’s latest EP, Open Arms, there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell I wasn’t going to like it. Strike that, I mean love it.
The band had already released three of the four tracks, “Powdered Sugar”, “Lightness Out of Darkness”, and “A Man As Alive As The City” and they were all chef’s kiss. Each a brilliant powerhouse in their own right, and collectively with the title track they are perhaps some of the finest work the band has done.
The quartet of The Boxer Rebellion, Nathan Nicholson (vocals), Andrew Smith (guitars), Adam Harrison (bass), and Piers Hewitt (drums) has always retained two things with their music – their independence as a band and the magic they bring to each song.
Open Arms continues their independence and magic. “Powdered Sugar” is a melodic masterpiece. “Lightness Out of Darkness” is a beautiful mix of vulnerability, grace, and wisdom, “A Man As Alive as the City” is timeless.
As for “Open Arms”, the band did save the best for last. The song is stunning, emotional, and wonderfully honest and raw.
On the song, Nathan says,
“‘Open Arms’ started life a few years ago when we as a band visited CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), who, in their words are ‘taking a stand against suicide.’ That means standing against feeling shit, standing up to stereotypes and standing together to show life is always worth living. It was eye opening and also something that I can very much relate to through the experiences in my own family. ‘Open Arms’ is about the power of being there for someone, listening without judgement and letting them know that they are loved.”
I’ll reiterate, Open Arms is some of the finest work the band has done. It should be listened to on repeat until one’s soul is cleansed from the day’s brutality.
Truthful, frank, and undeniably magical.
