REVIEW: Patience - Third Time Lucky

Leeds five-piece band Patience, formerly known as Japanese Raccoon Dog, are coming out with their debut EP Third Time Lucky this week and the six-song-long release is definitely one to listen to. Drawing inspiration from well-known bands such as Paramore, Holding Absence, American Football and Biffy Clyro, the mathrocky Midwest emo band focuses on topics of struggle as means of carving an optimistic mutual future. Four songs from the EP, ‘Whatever It Takes’, ‘I’ll Be Fine’, ‘Bliss’ and ‘Trust’ have been released as singles so far.

The introductory track ‘Swept Away’ is fifty-three seconds long with no vocals. It's a quick and easy way to show the listener just what the EP is going to be like, as the melody is similar to the one in the upcoming songs, but without having to dip much more than a toe into the the release.

The next song, ‘Whatever It Takes’, was the band’s debut single. Released in the February of 2024 - over a year ago now - the track continues immediately from the melody of the previous one, creating a smooth transition into the soft vocals of the femme lead of the band. Starting off with a prominent bass line, that pairs excellently with the punchy drums, the melody swiftly picks up and adds electric guitar into the blender as well.

‘I’ll Be Fine’, the third track on Third Time Lucky, goes straight into those beautifully written guitar lines so typical of mathrock and Midwest emo, making the sound little heavier from the beginning. The usage of synth in some parts compliments the overall harmony, making the instruments balanced and not overwhelming.

The fourth song and the latest single, ‘Bliss’, continues with the faster paced music, utilising a few elements of more radio-oriented rock in the melody. Sounding very familiar to Paramore’s music, the band doesn't push the boundaries so far in this song, preferring to go with a more traditional and timeworn approach.

The same is true for the fifth song ‘Evergreen’ and the last song on the album, ‘Trust’. Although the three tracks share these similarities, the last one uses a different rhythm to the previous two - however, the relative similarities can make the listening experience feel prolonged, with not much distinct changing for some time. The vocals of the lead singer are the best distinguisher of the three songs, and they fit together with the instruments tremendously. ‘Evergreen’ consists of some very memorable guitar riffs, and a beautiful build up that goes straight into more guitar and drum action, while ‘Trust’ has an emotional bridge, that once again showcases the guitarist’s skills.

Third Time Lucky is a well crafted debut album, that does well to showcase the potential of the band to the listeners while simultaneously walking the path of certainty in terms of how the music sounds. Although sometimes the tracks felt long and repetitive, Patience confirmed that they are capable of incorporating interesting elements in their crafts, making the listener stay for more. The harmony between guitar, bass and drums is well executed and does not feel overwhelming, with lots of space left for the vocals to solidify the experience. It's absolutely an interesting piece to listen to for anyone who is looking for something a bit different, with the veil of well known music over the top.

Score: 7/10

Third Time Lucky will be released on April 4th 2025.

Words: Katerina Stepanikova

Photos: Patience