Detective Social’s newest single ‘Roads’ is the first of three singles to be released from a mini album due out sometime in Spring this year, and is a great demonstration of how this quartet can pen an uplifting pop song with grace and ease.

Frontman Joel Checkley’s vocals float delicately above the metallic but echo-y guitar, creating an atmosphere of calm, before working its way up into a heartfelt outburst of strength and confidence. The mix of a circulating guitar pattern and light but determined drums gives the song a feeling of fortitude, fitting perfectly with the poetically motivational lyrics, “let’s show the world, that even the weak can be strong”. It can teeter on the fine line between inspirational and a little corny, but when you listen to the song as a whole, it gives you this sense of happiness; you can’t help but take a giant breath and smile. It’s the song you would find used in a film, when a protagonist hits some tough times, it’s a little soft but a very encouraging listen with meaning that can resonate true for anyone and everyone. I feel it would come to life a little more when played live, but it is a genuinely captivating pop song.

Review Score: 7/10