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Song

Poison

Artist

Brave Rival 

Brave Rival backstory

It’s more than 12 months since Five Years On featured as our Red Hot Track Of The Week.

We’ve caught Brave Rival a few times since — a standout set at this summer’s Call Of The Wild Festival was a memorable highlight.

And it’s safe to say the NWOCR stalwarts continue to set the standard for British blues rock.

2022’s driving debut Life Machine announced dual vocalists Lindsey Bonnick and fellow founding member Chloe Josephine as ones to watch.

And on the back of the that lively long player it’s little wonder the band was hailed by Joe Bonamassa as one of his favourite discoveries of the year.

Brave Rival, now featuring Donna Peters behind the kit, continue to deliver on their huge potential — scooping Band Of The Year at the 2025 UK Blues Awards.

And it’s difficult to imagine the momentum slacking any time soon with new single  Poison the preamble to a hotly anticipated autumn EP.

In Brave Rival’s own words

Lindsey Bonnick: “When the guys sent me the first demo for Poison, I was immediately inspired.

“The melody and lyrics poured out of me and by the morning we had our first single!”

Ed Clarke: “It was Billy [Dedman, bass] who set the challenge to write a song in the vein of AC/DC or our recent faves The Southern River Band.

“What was initially a bit of a ’tongue in cheek’ riff quickly became this huge driving anthem.”

The verdict on Poison

Not a cover of the late 80s Alice Cooper classic but another welcome injection of bullish blues rock from a band that can do no wrong.

If Poison was the result of a Billy Dedman dare then his bandmates met a welcome challenge head on.

And the zeal with which Brave Rival have approached this anthemic blast of heavy blues bodes well for the immediate future.

Ed Clarke’s described the song’s formative riff as ‘tongue in cheek’. Well if that’s the case then it’s a Gene Simmons-sized tongue.

Everything about Poison is oversized and overblown: the riff in question wouldn’t sound out of place pacing a Scorpions record.

And by the time Ed Clarke’s solo kicks in and the gang vocals take centre stage it’s like stepping back in time to Tommy Vance’s Friday Night Rock Show.

Brave Rival have made another bold move. Poison’s a killer track.

What’s next for Brave Rival

Produced by Tarrant Shepherd and recorded at Global Fire Studios in Fareham, Brave Rival’s new EP drops later this year.

Each track has been filmed and mixed in immersive Dolby Atmos — creating a unique fusion of visuals and sound.

Catch the band at the Colne Great British R&B Festival on August 24 prior to a slew of UK dates supporting FM in September.