Where There's Life | EP Review

Edinburgh’s Where There’s Life have just released their new self-titled EP, which combines pop punk with heavier fragments, similar to the likes of Four Year Strong and A Day To Remember. The EP contains 5 relentless tracks which get the balance between heaviness and pop punk just right 

First of all, the EP launches into Wasted. Although the song is just over a minute long, it sets the EP off at the right pace with upbeat, melodic vocals and bold riffs.  

Up next is Lego which opens with a punchy riff. The song is vivacious and parades an abundance of energy, aided by an unforgettable chorus. The song also holds an impressive breakdown three quarters of the way through unleashing the bands heavier pop punk side.

The third track is Where We Go. The introduction is bouncy with an impressive vocal melody that immediately grasps your attention. The song is buoyant and uplifting, exhibiting a profusion of energy. The gang vocals towards serve the band well, creating a perfect excuse to sing along.

Twenty Three displays Where There’s Life’s more fervent side and they pull it off well. From just listening to this track, it would be hard to guess that the previous three tracks were cheery pop punk anthems. The song displays impassioned lyrics and coincides with vehement vocals.

Anchors returns Where There’s Life to more their chilled side. The song has a poppy chorus complimented by amiable riffs. The song is straightforward but enticing, harbouring a crisp riff just as it ends, prompting you to hit replay.  

Overall, Where There’s Life have put together an impressive EP, especially considering it was recorded in their guitarist's bedroom without external help. The juxtaposition of the soft vocals and the heavy guitar parts are a nice touch and although it’s nothing new, Where There’s Life have made it their own and have done an incredible job of it. The lyrics denote youthful themes but at no point are they futile or credulous, displaying a mature flare. If you’re a fan of Four Year Strong, A Day To Remember or Me vs Hero, definitely give these guys a listen. 

Check out the EP below:



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Tigerstyle | Where Do We Go From Here | Review

Tigerstyle, who hail from Northampton, have just released their third EP, Where Do We Go From Here. Tigerstyle are yet another example of an up and coming UK band who prove that pop punk doesn't just belong the US. The EP consists of four fast-paced, melodious songs which add another awesome addition to Tigerstyle's repertoire. 

The EP opens with Barefoot. The lyrics for Barefoot are dark, cluttered with unconcealed emotion. The pace is sporadic complimented by dynamic guitar parts that are gripping from the off-set. 

Pages is up next which makes for a more upbeat,catchy and invigorating song. The song starts with charming intro which quickly leads into an uplifting guitar riff accompanied by sincere lyrics that denote themes of summer and being young. Signals, the third track, is a fast-paced, buoyant song.The vocal melody is unforgettable brimming with youthful angst and engrossing guitar hooks. 

Projections is the final track on the EP. Like Signals, Projections has a captivating chorus laden with energetic riffs and an impeccable rhythm  

Overall, Where Do We Go From Here is a solid effort from Tigerstyle. They've managed to create a proficient, impassioned EP that will appeal to the majority of pop punk fans. The EP consists of everything that makes for a striking pop punk sound; breakneck tempos, engaging riffs and infectious vocal melodies.

Where Do We Go From Here is out now! Get it for free on Bandcamp until 19/06/15:


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Trash Boat | Brainwork Review

For a band that have only been around for a year, Trash Boat have already come a long way. Last year, the band released their first EP Look Alive which certified them as one of the foremost UK pop punk bands around at the moment. Now, a year later, the band have just announced that they've signed to Hopeless Records following in the footsteps of Neck Deep and ROAM. With the signing, the guys also announced that they would be releasing their new EP 'Brainwork' just in time for the summer months. 

Brainwork starts off with Taylor, a minute long opener which kick things off straight away. After a captivating start, the song shoots into a fast, up-beat, rhythmic section with fervent vocals. The EP then launches into Saving Face, another of Brainwork's rapid-paced tracks with an engrossing riff. The lyrics are self-loathing and sincere, structured into a melodic chorus. 

Up next is Perspective which Trash Boat have just released a video for. Lyrically, Perspective attends to vocalist Tobi Duncan's health issues and the torment and adversity can be detected through his fierce vocals. At first, the song starts off slowly but the pace soon picks. The song is a dynamic mix of energy blended with a powerful vocal melody.    

The fourth song, As Seen On Our Screen, deals with the struggles of a tedious job and trying to escape to find something better. The song is definitely one that stands out, with the opening riff instantly able to capture your attention. The chorus on this song is also striking, coinciding nicely with the catchy, intoxicating riffs and the wholehearted lyrics.

The final song, Eleven, is definitely the most fast paced. However, it does slow down towards the end, combined with gang vocals which chant 'rip my heart from my sleeve, sinking deep inside my chest'.  It's a vigorous close to the EP, with a profusion of energy which is ingrained with ardent lyrics. 

Overall, Brainwork is an EP loaded with rapid, breakneck songs which only slow down for a second or so. Every song is filled with enthralling guitar parts, earnest lyrics and a vehement tempo. The lyrics cover themes such as health, self-scrutiny and escaping terrible jobs; it's easy to depict a crowd of people shouting these lyrics back when played live. Brainwork leans more towards the punk than pop side of pop-punk and Trash Boat pull it off well. It's clear that Trash Boat have stuck to all the elements that made their previous EP Look Alive great, while also not becoming too repetitive. 

Brainwork is out on the 18th of May. Stream it below:



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Stereo Age | Half Of Us Review

Italian pop punks, Stereo Age, have just released their new EP, Half of Us. The EP combines 8 tracks of raw pop punk that will leave you captivated after the first listen. Each track incorporates the best elements of pop punk: a rapid pace, memorable lyrics and vibrant guitar tones. Half Of Us is reminiscent of early 2000’s pop punk while also incorporating newer styles and vocal melodies. 

The EP starts off with the title track, Half of Us, a minute long, piano induced opener that includes people conversing over the top. If you were to play Half Of Us on its own, separate from the rest of the EP, it would leave no suggestion that you were about to listen to an energetic pop punk EP. Nevertheless, it is an enticing and unique opener with both English and Italian parts. After ‘Half of us’ the EP launches in to Learn to Be Late, a resilient track with an incisive chorus. 

The EP has a number of enthralling riffs. For example, Stickers and Thanks For The Truth open with a striking set of engaging, energetic riffs that instantly leave you hooked. For this reason, Stickers and Thanks For The Truth obtrude as some of the stand out tracks. The riffs are complimented by impressive vocal melodies and vehement drum beats which make it impossible not to bounce your head. 

Round 12 is a dynamic song that provides the most harmonious chorus on the EP. After this Memorandum, a short-lived ,upbeat song comes into play which delivers a ferocious punch. 

Cigarettes, Skinned Knees and Everything In between and City Rain are the last two tracks on the EP. Cigarettes is a slower song, making it more emotive. On the other hand, City Rain is another song with a rapid pace. The tracks act as a vigorous contrast which bring the EP to a triumphant close.  

Overall, Half Of Us is an enchanting EP, filled with the kind of pop punk songs that need to be played out loud on a sunny day. Stereo Age’s energy is relentless and this, accompanied by the charming riffs and catchy, melodious vocal parts and swift pace, makes for a great EP and something we’ll definitely have on repeat. If you’re a fan of bands like New Found Glory, A Loss For Words or The Wonder Years, we definitely recommend that you check these guys out…

Half Of Us is out now! Check out Round 12:

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Milestones | Equal Measures Review

Manchester pop punk/ alt. rock band Milestones are set to released their debut EP, ‘Equal Measures’, on the 6^th of April. If you're a fan of upbeat, melodic alt. rock/ pop punk such as You Me At Six, Moose Blood etc., Equal Measures is definitely something you should be checking out this spring. Vocalist Matt Clarke had this to say about the new release: “One of our main aims in creating these songs was to make people turn away and think, “Okay, these guys are good, but I have no idea what their next release is going to be like. Whilst it’s obvious we’ve taken some massive influences from bands like Neck Deep and You Me At Six, but I don’t think we isolate our sound like a lot of the new pop-punk bands around at the moment might. We feel we’ve left so much room for growth in our sound. It’s not as easy to do that, but I hope people appreciate the diversity our record has, whilst still offering up the catchy hooks and melodic leads that pop punk and alternative rock are renowned for.” He definitely has a point, with each song meticulously crafted to find the right balance between upbeat pop punk melodies and alt. rock sentiment. 

The EP starts off with 'More To Me', which Milestones have already released a video for (watch it below). The song is the most upbeat from the EP with the pop punk influences transgressing through. However, varying styles and dynamics can be heard throughout with all the different parts weaving together to create a brilliant opening track. Next up comes the title track, 'Equal Measures', which begins as soft and haunting but builds up to a colossal effort filled with a heavy riff and atmospheric vocals.  

'Nothing Left', like 'Equal Measures', starts off slow and builds up. The chorus is one of the most powerful on the EP and is backed up by a selection of ardent and emotive guitar and drum parts. The acoustic section three-quarters of the way through is a nice touch and adds a divergent level within the song. 

'Counterweight' is the only acoustic song from the EP and Milestones have done a great job of it. It's simple yet effective with vocalist Matt Clarke's voice resonating across different notes in his range. The vocals plus the acceding guitar will undoubtedly make it a fan favourite. The closing track, 'Sleepless Nights Are Put To Bed', is the heaviest song on the EP, with authoritative riffs and energetic lyrics. It sounds vigorous and fervent as the EP comes to a close and shows what a great statement Milestones have made with their debut EP.    

Overall, the Equal Measures is an awesome first effort from Milestones. They've really defined their style with this first release displaying their potential and talent across the whole of the EP. We can't wait to hear more releases from them in the future.  

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Six Time Champion | Expecting Honesty Review

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that the UK pop punk scene has somewhat exploded in the past few years. With Neck Deep, and recently ROAM, being signed to Hopeless records and As It Is being signed to Fearless, it would appear that pop punk is definitely back and stronger than ever. These bands have also paved the way for newer bands and it's awesome to see so many newer bands displaying their talents and building up a larger pop punks scene within the UK. One of these bands is Brighton's Six Time Champion who are about to released their new EP 'Expecting Honesty' on December 1st.

The EP starts off with Running Dry, one of the heavier songs from the EP. The song sets off Expecting Honesty with a fast tempo and catchy melody.  At times it almost mirrors Four Year Strong with guitar parts that chug along with an intense drum beat. The EP then leads on to Happiness is Emptiness and despite the pessimistic title, the song is a cheerful, upbeat and vibrant. Like Running Dry, it has a fast tempo and catchy melody. The song is a personal favourite and has elements of older pop punk while blending it in newer components.    

Up next is Expecting Honesty, the title track. The band have stated that the song is about ‘voicing a lack of tolerance for all the pointless dishonesty in life’ and that 'It pretty much sums up the entire theme of the E.P.’. The vocals on the track really do point to the theme of the E.P with them being vigorous and aggressive; enough to get the message across while being great to sing along to.

Dragging Feet is where the pace slows down. While it’s not as fast and intense as the other tracks, it still packs a powerful punch. It displays that Six Time Champion are able play around with the tempo of the songs without lacking an energetic sound. The closing track Separation picks up the pace again, with a return to the fast paced and authoritative drums and guitar. The chorus is resonant, and definitely one of the stand out ones from the E.P.

Overall, Six Time Champion’s new EP is an excellent showcase of everything that pop punk should be with fast paced, intense, drums, uplifting guitar parts, honest lyrics and melodic vocals. It's also pleasing to see another UK pop punk band doing a great job and  we can’t wait to hear more from these guys in the future.  

Stream the whole of Expecting Honesty here.



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