Written: 19th February 2025
Hailing from Kent and formed three years ago, Gianni Scalera and The Jury are a band that thrive on delivering high energy hard rock. Having released their debut album A Price To Pay in May 2024, the trio enter the next cycle of releases with new single Flip The Script.
From the first notes, Gianni Scalera and The Jury make it clear that are very much about energy and pace. An initially almost muted guitar riff begins before the sound opens up and the trio hurtle into the first verse. Utilising the tropes of hard rock and also elements of grunge, they create an infectious, rapid-fire attack with vocalist Gianni Scalera delivering the words in a slightly staccato attack, reflecting the acerbic verve of the lyrics. Can you tell me where did I go wrong? / I've been stuck in the same place for far too long / Feeling like I'm put in limbo to be left behind / My mind's a prison that I won't get out of 'til the day I die. With a narrative of frustration and the need for self-empowerment, there is the underlying current of internal struggle and lurking throughout the song.
No less powerful but a little more melodic, the chorus marks a subtle shift in tone. Scalera’s delivery is slightly smoother as the lyrics illustrate his determination to take control and change his circumstances. It's time to flip the script / I'm gonna do this my way / Wipe the grin off your face, things are gonna change / I'm here to take the crown / As your world burns down, your authority decays. Bassist Liam Ponder and drummer Harley Dighton make a brilliant combination, both restless and impassioned in the background highlighting the fact that while the protagonist is showing a braver face to the world, he is in turmoil inside. Throughout, Scalera’s driving riffs maintain the feeling of defiance and carry the listener along with him.
By the second verse, the protagonist has forged his inner grit into a frontline of offense. There is no more hiding as the lyrics become confrontational and direct, calling out the oppressive figure. There is a punk-like attitude to the track that encourages the listener to root for the narrator. For a trio, the band create a delightfully thunderous sound. The increased intensity of the vocals as the track develops give the impression of acceleration and they manage to keep the track’s tempo the right side of careering off the rails.
During Flip The Script’s three minutes, there is barely chance to catch a breath; only a short section in the middle of the song finds a slight stripping back of the sound. This is merely a brief respite however and following a very short but dynamic drum solo from Dighton, the trio launch their next salvo. This leads to a short bridge and the next chorus which finds Scalera altering the notation on the last line which adds a further element of rebelliousness. An utterly blistering guitar solo ends the track as simultaneously, Ponder’s basslines leap from the speakers, encapsulating a cathartic release and the fiery resolve the protagonist now wields.
Flip The Switch is a track that will appeal to many fans of hard rock, particularly those that enjoy the slightly aggressive instrumentation and belligerent attitude of the lyrics. Gianni Scalera and The Jury are not the most technically perfect band out there but they do not need to be. Their strengths lie in an abundance of passion and a repertoire of undeniably hook laden and irresistibly catchy songs. Writing this review, Flip The Switch was constantly encouraging to turn up the volume; the trio would undoubtedly be great fun to see live and this new single will definitely draw in new followers.
Flip The Script is released on 20th February 2025.
Gianni Scalera and The Jury online
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