It can be difficult to know what to say when reviewing a new band for the first time. Some of the best bands of the past decade have been anonymous in their early days. It’s the formative years that determine what a band will become and what they’ll mean to people. Be it true or not in life, but in music first impressions can certainly last a lifetime, you can love or hate a band in an instant, or you can not really care. Either way, unless you’re very open minded, you’ll form a definitive opinion on almost any band within the first few minutes of listening to them.

This could be a blessing or a curse for Fiorentina. Their "Traditions" EP will most likely be the first time you’ve heard of them. So what’s the judge? Very little in truth, a three track EP like this is always a little hit or miss. Don’t get me wrong, the songs display a good character and prove that Fiorentina have the potential of a bright future, but lots of things need to happen. They need to develop and perfect a consistent song-craft and they need to display a diversity that is sadly lacking in this EP.

It’s up to Fiorentina how they develop and are seen in the world in years to come. But it’s not to be taken as a negative that they aren’t there yet. The "Traditions" EP does feel very young, and as it should. Fiorentina are only here for just over ten minutes, but certainly make the right first impressions. The chord progressions of the songs can’t be faulted, it’s dreamy and assured, but at the same time it’s downbeat and contemplative. They offer a lot of substance that’s missing nowadays in the thousands of songs about girls and stuff that will sound adolescent by a musicians mid-twenties.

The songs are about heart break, sure. But it’s the earnestness and presentation which make them credible. With this they begin to develop a warmth which, if nurtured correctly, will endear them to whole audiences in a matter of an opening verse. It’s not going to be the early Dashboard Confessional-style adoration, but they’ll win a place in many hearts and minds. This ability to write mature, heart-break songs is the sort of characteristic which could take them from a small band with a decent online following to an underground sensation.

Fiorentina certainly have plenty to build on. First single ‘How To Burn Bridges’ is undoubtedly the high point. The follow-up tracks, ‘Greatest View’ and ‘This Time Last Year’ complement the opener perfectly. Combine the three though and that’s when the magic happens, it’s only a short ten minutes, but Fiorentina at least make a statement and announce themselves worthy of your consideration. Their biggest victory with "Traditions" is that, as a first impression, it warrants and demands a second, none can be better than that.