Source: EP Artwork
In Lights are a brand new 4-piece which all started life as an intercontinental internet project. Having started life just last April, their debut EP Running With Scissors sets out to firmly push their pin into the pop-punk map.
Straight from the outset, there is no denying these guys are pop-punk. Punchy, upbeat riffs announce their arrival on the titular track along with bouncy choruses and electronic undertones; they have clearly done their homework on the scene. The press release that came with the EP said ‘for fans of All Time Low‘ and one would be mistaken for thinking they were listening to a new release from Alex Gaskarth and Co. The one difference that stands out is a somewhat unexpected metalcore-tinged breakdown towards the end that lasts all of 13 seconds, but hints at some sort of unique identifier which could come in handy in the midst of this pop-punk resurgence.
‘One Year Down‘ follows and bursts to life sounding bizarrely like an 80s power-metal ballad before falling straight back into pop-punk by numbers. The electronic screeching underpinning this EP begins to feel a little grating on this track, but the vocals do shine and In Lights show themselves to have a lot of promise as a tight band. While ‘Play Your Cards Right, Kid‘ feels a little tedious and too long, ‘Turn Tables‘ is a solid slice of rock with a chunkier riff and fantastic instrumental integration. It doesn’t rush to get every member included all at once and the layering effect it creates adds some real texture and depth to a track that could easily feel like something that has been done a thousand times before.
In Lights are good at what they do and all the signs are there for them to become great. They are already in the studio recording their debut full length and it will be interesting to see how they progress to that next step. There is no doubting that they could soon be sharing the stage with the likes of All Time Low in the next 12-18 months, but for now, a little growing and a serious think about what they want to do to have their own sound is needed for them to be taken seriously in their own light.
