JR Green are growing up and learning lessons on "First Blood"

If the EP was the sound of These Demented Lands-style booze-fuelled nights on Strontian, one of the most westerly points on the UK mainland, the "First Blood" is the sound of the Green boys a year older and not-so-wiser. While the folk music influence is still front and centre, the vocals are wearier and more lived-in, the thumping backbeat and fuller instrumental accompaniment suggesting community centre lock-ins have been replaced by sweaty clubs, mingling bodies and chemical romance.

As accordians swell and the strums get frenetic, the repeated line "there's no love in the words that you say anymore" hints at hard lessons amid the good times. The big time beckons JR Green, but they appear prepared for bumps in the road.

Produced by Joe McAlinden (Linden, Superstar) at his studio in the Arygll wilderness, "First Blood" will be out on 7 October. JR Green also tour in support of the single with dates in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and London. Further dates and tickets can be found here.