The Big Roar
The Joy Formidable · 2011
50 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock
A swirling blend of dynamic guitar riffs and soaring vocals that captures the intensity of emotional upheaval.
Top tracks — play these first
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Whirring — This explosive track serves as an anthem of catharsis, with its relentless energy perfectly encapsulating the band's raw sound and lyrical urgency.
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The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie — Opening the album with a powerful crescendo, this track sets the tone for the themes of deception and emotional complexity that pervade throughout.
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I Don’t Want to See You Like This — This poignant song balances delicate melodies with heavy instrumentation, illustrating a struggle between tenderness and turmoil within relationships.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends energetic rock with introspective moments, showcasing strong songwriting and production.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features high-energy tracks with driving guitar riffs, while the second half shifts to more atmospheric and introspective pieces.
- Several songs incorporate dynamic shifts in volume and intensity, creating a sense of emotional ebb and flow throughout the record.
- The lead vocals often intertwine with layered harmonies, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics and melodies.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long immersive listening sessions
- gradual builds and payoffs
- layered dense sonic textures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2011, The Big Roar was The Joy Formidable's debut full-length album following a series of acclaimed EPs. At this point, the band was transitioning from underground buzz to wider recognition, showcasing their distinct sound and solidifying their place in the alternative rock scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Wolf Alice· Silversun Pickups· Band of Skulls
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie
The song shifts from introspective verses to an explosive chorus that confronts betrayal head-on.
This transition highlights the contrast between vulnerability and defiance, amplifying the emotional stakes at play.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie 7:45
- 2 The Magnifying Glass 2:20
- 3 I Don’t Want to See You Like This 4:19
- 4 Austere 3:30
- 5 A Heavy Abacus 3:40
- 6 Whirring 6:47
- 7 Buoy 4:52
- 8 (Maruyama) 1:46
- 9 Cradle 2:47
- 10 Llaw=Wall 3:45
- 11 Chapter 2 3:09
- 12 The Greatest Light Is the Greatest Shade 5:20
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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