Source: EP Artwork
Ah, pop punk. Both popular and the bane of many’s existence, it’s a genre that has managed to weave its way into every corner of the music industry; every corner of the world. You can’t go to a rock club night without hearing a dozen tracks by State Champs, A Story So Far and Neck Deep… but they’re just supplying to the demand, right? Of course, but there comes to a point where there’s a complete over-saturation. From States Away don’t present themselves as anything unique, making it very difficult for them to stand out from the crowd.
From the very first track, ‘Fight or Flight‘, it’s obvious where they draw influence from. The likes of Four Year Strong and The Wonder Years spring to mind, as while From States Away retain the ‘pop’ as described in the genre’s very name, there’s layers of heavy guitar and scratchy vocals that see them dipping their toes into hardcore. Gang vocals, a huge chorus and, of course, a breakdown play a part, but it’s no different from anything else that even bigger bands are plugging.
The quintet hails from the East Coast of USA, and upon that discovery it’s no surprise to hear the style they’re playing. ‘Ashes‘ is fuller than its predecessor, but it will still leave the listener feeling empty — it’s a good song, but it isn’t great, let alone enough to win over a crowd if that’s what From States Away have in mind. As a smaller band, they have a long way to go before they should consider headlining states themselves, so it’s paramount that they make themselves as relatable as possible to the fans of those bands that they may support. ‘Ferris Wheel‘ has the potential to see them do just that. It’s the first song on this EP that really packs a punch and showcases the band’s talent, because, despite appearances at times, there’s no doubting they’re talented.
‘Serenity‘ and ‘Chasing Amy‘ finish off this short but for the most part sweet record, both offering their own individual merits but, unfortunately, also fails. ‘Serenity‘ is more Taking Back Sunday-esque, and it’s interesting to see From States Away’s take on vintage pop punk, AKA pop punk before pop punk was a thing. The record was produced by Chris Piquette, formerly of Trophy Wives, so it’s easy to see why the production is so stellar for such a young band, and that continues on in to ‘Chasing Amy‘, which takes a gentler approach compared to the rest of the EP. There’s still a determination behind the sound, and while From States Away still have a long road ahead of them, it’s definitely one that leads to brilliance.
