What once was intended as a project to create a soundtrack for a short film, turned out into a real band after the protagonists felt too much creative energy inside to stop what they had begun. LEAF was born. Releasing this soundtrack and a first demo, the band achieved a deal and now comes out with the debut.
Circle Of Ways is a roller coaster of loud and quiet tones which span the wide fields of Rock/ Heavy and Alternative, as in the veins of Creed, Nickelback and Pearl Jam. Let me mention that the louder tones are quite heavy and powerful. Singer Jamie Scholz pulls all the strings while he ties up the melancholic and the aggressive moments with his wonderful clean voice. Circle Of Ways cleverly kicks off easy-going and presents a nice semi ballad with the title track, before it hits the twelve with Swimming. I guess some gentle minds will be distinctly scared … But one will not only be nailed on the wall by riff monsters, but also get some progressive finesse in between of the quieter tones, which subsequently show up always again. More energetic eruptions as in Changing and Thank You add something special to the music, but crushing moments as in Swimming fail to appear afterwards. Keeping themselves mainstream-compatible LEAF hold off discreet.
Deductions in the B-note LEAF get for their goofy Sisters cover version The Temple Of Love. Needless.
Nevertheless, LEAF have delivered a great and well-done debut CD!