Album: Wishful Thinking
Released: 2014
Pop punk has nary been touched upon over in our fair country. When we celebrate said genre, we focus on the American heavyweights such as Blink-182, Green Day, New Found Glory and The Offspring, and other upcoming acts from the USA such as A Day To Remember. With all that, it's refreshing that with all of the cries of "pop punk will never die!", Neck Deep are proof that the industry is still spouting bands that fall into this genre.
Opening song Losing Teeth breaks you in nicely with tasty riffs that bring that sweet air of summer around, and Staircase Wit allows frontman Ben Barlow to let his guitarists shine for a minute with some heavy power chord work. Barlow can be a little guilty of overdoing his vocals, and I'm hoping later in the record that the instrumentalists can take centre stage with some big breakdowns or solos. Meanwhile, Damsel In Distress mixes it up with more intricate guitar work, and Zoltar Speaks is the circle pit song of the album: pure unadulterated punk energy.
Picking up from where Zoltar Speaks left off, Growing Pains is a bit more anthemic with its relatable lyrics about your typical heartbreak, but delivered with ferocious pace and a tight groove. Mileage, for some reason, calls to mind the sort of stuff that Simple Plan would release if they were a bit more daring. There is a slight frustration though as the song ends, as I find myself wondering how much more they could have added if they included more instrumental moments. Sweet Nothings shines brightly amongst a group that hasn't really disappointed me (much), but it's easily the most infectious song on the album, showcasing how much talents these boys possess. The soaring melodies of Blank Pages make for pleasant listening, and then BAM! You're crushed under the pummelling rhythms and angry lyrics once again. Final track Candour is definitely an anomaly, but it's beautiful all the same. It shows these guys can rally an army, but they can also weather a storm. Easily the best song on the album.
Another album I've enjoyed, and another strong major debut effort. Despite the insistence from Ben Barlow to sing like an American, and opportunities missed by not allowing the musicians to showcase their obvious talents a bit more, Wishful Thinking is a strong record; not the finished article, but strong. If you're a fan of A Day To Remember's more pop punk over metalcore moments, then this may be the new band for you. I look forward to seeing how far these boys go in an industry that is starting to welcome pop punk back with open arms, but I would also be interested in seeing how far they go across the pond. Can British pop punk invade the USA? I certainly hope so.
Rating: 7.5/10
Recommended tracks: Sweet Nothings, Candour
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