But Chesterfield's Freefold come at it with a different style of music that makes it so much more than 'just another war song'.

Opening their new EP, Johnny Soldier actually sounds like a battlefield, with the metal chug of guitars, the pound of drums and vocals that rattle with the rawness.

With a catchy chorus and great guitarwork, this song is the breakthrough Freefold needed to take their status up a notch.

Let It Go, meanwhile, has a scratchy beginning but leads into a heartbreaking melody contrasted with fierce solos and growling vocals.

It clearly shows the band's ability to push the boundaries of their genre.

The interlude is a clever break from the heavier sounds, with Incubus-style riffs for the instrumental.

Proving a class of its own, Northern Lights moves Freefold from heavy power to something slower and introspective.

The love-ache is driven by opening vocals and acoustic guitar, and even when the overdrive kicks in, it's not too over-powering; the same sweet melody emphasising the emotion.

From beginning to end, the Johnny Soldier CD is a mark of how far Freefold have come in a year: more professional in approach, more mature and with strengthened musical talent.

It makes this band one to watch in the not so distant future. 2008 – could be the year of Freefold...

AKIRA PAUK

Johnny Soldier is available from Hudson's Music, Chesterfield.