Review by Dan:

4 track demo CD from south east London’s Brain Ache, featuring hard edged guitars and clattering drums which combine to form a certain rhythmic sensibility. First up is “Say or Do”, possessing a soft, melodic intro which launches into a brash, Foo Fighters-esque burner with a riff that lodged itself in my head. The self titled second track would be the pick for me, opening, like its predecessor, with a soft, smooth strumming intro, and then exploding into a chugging, revved up melee that careers along like a runaway train. Towards the end, lead vocalist Simon Hawkins echoes Adam Ant’s “Goody Two Shoes”, enquiring ‘You don’t drink, don’t smoke, what do you do?’, before roaring into the song’s climactic conclusion.
“In My Prison”, reminiscent of Linkin' Park, slickly intertwines 2 elements, both highlighted by Simon, whose soft, sensitive vocals tiptoe through the verses, totally contrasting with the bloodcurdling howls he unleashes during the chorus, which is ably sung by guitarist Jamie Rayner. “Faded Memory” contains some further vocal exchanges between Simon and Jamie (drawing similarities with those of Chester Bennington/Mike Shinoda of the aforementioned Linkin' Park), and the imposing guitar work of its chorus definitely won’t fade out of too many memories.
In my opinion, Brain Ache have progressed from their earlier days of raw yob rock/metal, and have produced a sharper, mature demonstration of what we as listeners can look forward to.