RILA’S EDGE - ‘TOO LATE TO TURN BACK’

Writer’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

At the end of a huge year of new releases and headline shows for Wokingham-based band Rila’s Edge, the five-piece have released their rock infused second EP ‘Too Late to Turn Back’.

Opening track, ‘The End’, is a short but sweet single that explores the impending dread of breaking off your relationship (“round here is there a curse? / Or do I want nothing to change?”). With rhetorical lyrics paired with instrumentals that perfectly build and repeatedly crash, this EP opener sets the tone for the band’s succinct release that follows the themes of failed relationships and the unwelcome changes that are necessary to grow older. ‘Wynona’ is a track in a similar vein, telling the story of an irresistible “toxic lover” through vocal harmonies and intricate guitar riffs. Rila’s Edge are a band that translate all their songs amazingly live, but it’s especially easy to imagine the song’s chorus in that setting.

‘Radio’ and EP closer ‘Need to Know’ take on a heartfelt approach to ‘Too Late to Turn Back's themes, each acknowledging the demise of the relationship but longing to postpone the final nail in the coffin – whether that’s the right choice or not. The penultimate track on the EP is ‘Gold’, an upbeat and catchy single directly addressing the hypothetical partner, almost creating the narrative of a break-up conversation itself. The EP is full of vulnerabilities and intimate lyrics that you might not notice on the first listen, easily making ‘Too Late to Turn Back’ the best release from the band so far.

After a busy year headlining their first London and Reading shows and the successful release of their new EP, the band is playing a highly anticipated hometown gig in Wokingham at Gighouse on December 16th.