One of my top albums of 2011 - and as a debut it really is something of quality.

Standout tracks:

The Everchaning Spectrum of a Lie

I Don't Want to See You Like This

A Heavy Abacus

Whirring

Cradle

Llaw = Wall

The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade

I'd never heard of The Joy Formidable until the 30th October 2012 when I saw them live supporting MUSE.

Incredible, LOUD! and they can really play. This 3 piece UK band rocked that night and had the whole arena up for it!

The lead vocalist/guitarist is a very petite and attractive girl who absolutely wrings the living hell out of her guitar and the whole energy of the band is clear to see.

They played several tracks off this album and also Cholla from their EP.

It was bloody great and made me get on here to download their stuff after the concert.

Certainly not disappointed, haven't stopped playing them.

New album coming in the New Year so that'll be one to look out for.

Nice one guys!

Totally love this group and this album is a must buy, looking forward to there new album.

This has become one of my favourite albums since it's release. The melancholy lyrics, mixed with the crunching guitars & Ritzy's incredible voice is perfect.

The Everchanging Spectrum Of A Lie - 10/10

The Magnifying Glass - 9/10

I Don't Want To See You Like This - 10/10

Austere - 10/10

A Heavy Abacus - 9/10

Whirring - 10/10

Buoy - 8/10

Maruyama - 8/10

Cradle - 10/10

Llaw = Wall - 10/10

Chapter 2 - 9/10

The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade - 10/10

Amazing song<3

Saw them live supporting Manic Street Preachers and then on their own at Cardiff's Swn Festival. They are great live and love the album.

normally with albums i get i listen to them when their released for a bbit then stop, but this album is just great and never gets boring :)

the joy formidable are incredible! this album is brilliant etc etc etc, but where is the roarities EP? The joy formidable have an extra ep out which isnt on iTunes. (which is also awesome)

What a fantastic album - by far the album of the year for me so far and it'll be a tough one to beat. Everyone should own this album!

This band are pure magic!! They have single handedly saved the British music industry, rejuvenated rock music and saved our souls!!! The album glistens with beautifully crafted poetics, both musically and lyrically!!

This is the album of 2011 to own.

Elliot Davies

just seen this amazing band live at Glasto. buy it, see them live or both.

I heard Heavy Abacus on Radio 1 and loved straight away. They are just really good and I love how loud they sound. The best album I have bought this year!

Simply the best band in years and lovely people too. As good if not better live and have seen them many times.you don't get a free piece of Ritzy's guitar or the special box set on iTunes though!

Such an impressive album! The music itself is phenomenal, and the lyrics really potent. My favourite album of this year by a mile!

Saw these guys as the single of the week and gave them a listen. Like nothing I've listened to before, they're the best new act I've come across this year. A great album from start to finish, I especially love the brilliantly titled: "The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie" along with "I Don't Want to See You Like This" and "Whirring" but all the songs are great. Get it...

At last a band who really know how to play & how to ROCK, This album is amazing. Every melody is instanly stuck in your head. cant wait to see them live again.

Love everything on this album

This really is a fantastic album! Pre-ordered about a fortnight or so before! Like most music, it really gets into my head, but some of the tracks on this are just of a whole new level! Highly recommended!

I got the freeee one: the greatest light is the greatest joy, so good! really catchy too;)

Before I write about TJF and their Roar I must really thank iTunes Genius which showed as recommendation though I was reluctant to download straightaway decided to read them on the net and finally downloaded and what I get is a very good listen, the best yet this year. I have come to like Ritzy's vocals way very much. All the songs are excellent I can't really pick which one is best as all are equally brilliant.

Thumbs up and I have so far pushed 4 of my friends to download this.

This album is by far the best of 2011 so far (i know its only february :P) and i think it will be extremely difficult for me to find a better album this year! It's just so good. Ritzy is a brilliant frontwoman, and i cant get enough of her voice. The sound these guys produce together is just wow, and the album is packed with fantastic songs. The blend between pop and rock is perfect, and they are surely destined for big things this year. Would definetely recommend it to everyone. Simply supurb! :)

Saw these guys supporting Howling Bells a couple of years back and have seen them live twice since. They are amazing live and I'm so glad they've captured it on record. They have worked really hard and done it the old school way by playing loads of gigs and letting that speak for them rather than playing one gig and letting a major record company budget do the rest. Much respect to them. If you like a big wall of sound like My Vitriol you won't be disapointed.

I don't see how anyone could compare this amazing ban with 'my bloody valentine' because these are so much better! If you like these check out the song called 'never hear surf music again' it's amazing but I can't remember who it's by :( ....... But great song!

Amazing! Can't go wrong with these you shall be pleased with the indie/rock fest that is the big roar. Will be very big very soon!woo hoo!

I saw them supporting Howling Bells 2 years ago, they are great, check them out!!

Saw them live 2 years ago so they're not really new. And had all their stuff free when they weren't really well known. Can't believe it's taken this long for them to get known!

I cant understand how anybody could compare this band to arcade fire or place this band in the genre of dreamy pop... if you're looking for dreamy pop search for school of seven bells, or hundred in the hands, or glasser.

I was not looking for dreamy pop but grunge rock, and the joy formidable came to my aid. I have been waiting for a good grunge band for ages and these guys are pretty decent what is interesting is that it crosses over into progressive rock genre at times as the songs build and build.

it is a good first album for this band, and am interested to see how they will develop and what direction they will go in after this. I hope they have to wait a few more years to be a household name, as i would appreciate some more angst sounding music from these guys as this is when they are at their best.

ROCK BANDS LIKE THE JOY FORMIDABLE MAKE ME PROUD TO BE BRITISH :)

Uh, yeah, all what you said was right except they are not new, they've been around for like 4 years

Saw these guys on the NME Radar tour with Chapel Club and they just blew me away. Friends had told me how good they were but Ritzy has such a stage presence and the wall of sound the three of them emit is stunning. If you only see one band play live EVER! make sure it's The Joy Formidarbler.

A new band with a sound that looks both forwards and backwards, it has excitement, drive and enthusiasm a plenty; go and see them live! Their sound has been labelled ‘dreamy indie pop’ and the nearest existing they remind me of is ‘My Bloody Valentine’.

This album has been a long time in the making (first full length release) with relentless touring over the past three years building up a fan base just as enthusiastic as the band themselves. I hope the album is a big success for them.