Source: EP Artwork
Catch Fire describe themselves as “pop-punk straight outta’ Nottingham”, and that’s one they’ve hit right on the head. Yes, it’s another pop punk band crawling out of the wood work… but this quintet are adamant that they’re different from the rest of the bunch. Their debut EP sees its release on February 5th and we had a little listen to see if they really are unique, or if they’re just another Neck Deep carbon copy.
The Rude Records signees definitely draw influence from some of their label mates, which includes the likes of Man Overboard and Knuckle Puck, but they put an interesting spin on the material which makes it very much their own. First track ‘Introspect Pt I‘ has all the makings of a pop punk track but has that unmistakably British edge to it which, naturally, pays homage to the band’s roots whether they intended it that way or not. ‘Bad Behaviour‘ on the other hand is a little bit more ‘Americanised’, yet it still manages to pack a punch — it’s a little bit more uptempo than its predecessor, proving that Catch Fire are throwing all in to this EP to showcase themselves fully despite having just four songs.
‘Anaesthetic‘ is another fast paced one, the perfect blend of angst and melody that fans would come to expect and appreciate from a band like Catch Fire. There’s the catchy choruses that you can’t help to nod along to that will draw people in, but the relatable lyrics will no doubt be the reason they stay to treasure this true-blue pop punk.
Coming to a close with ‘Introspect Pt II‘, it’s hardly a surprise that it’s a gentle, acoustic tune. It’s not a new setup by far, but still it gives Catch Fire the opportunity to show off their versatility as a group of musicians. It’s all good to get their crowd dancing, but clearly they could also bring them to tears five minutes later and, surprisingly, that’s a good thing.
Overall, The Distance I Am From You is an impressive and memorable feat for Catch Fire; enough of a taste to give listeners an idea of where they’re heading and just how quickly they mean to get there!
