Artist: Attention Thieves
Release: Hard Truths EP
Release date: Out now
The 2010’s are a strange. The line between the grit of the early 00’s post-hardcore, the radio dominating pop punk and the watered down music that took the place of the exciting eclectic nature of 90’s alt rock has become blurred to say the least. Radio friendly choruses are welded to more muscular moments with just enough of an edge to be classed as alternative to the mainstream. A lot of the music isn’t as exciting or cutting edge as the bands who influenced it. Plenty of them are still good though, and Attention Thieves are probably among the best.
The band don’t delve into their heavier influences often enough to put those with an ear for the more melodic side off, but those aggressive screams and stactto riffs make an appearance just enough to make them credible to fans of heavier stuff. Every chorus on this EP certainly aims for the stratosphere, all impassioned vocal bellows and midpaced percussion present and correct. A couple of the hooks aren’t as strong as they could be, seeming almost interchangeable when compared to ear worms to the likes of say Biffy Clyro. On the other hand, if any of these songs came on the radio, TV or the club playlist no one’s going to demand they be turned off. Attention Thieves have turned being accessible into a fine art. But it does rob them of some of their edge, which makes the more aggressive moments of ‘Why Do I Care At All’ seem a bit forced when compared to the good time bounce of ‘To The Rats’.
Ultimately ‘Hard Truths’ is a strong release for Attention Theives. It’ll surely bolster their live show and its given them some obvious potential airplay fodder. But the influences are sometimes a touch too haphazard to let them seem like a band with a ‘sound’. Their sound is everyone’s sound. For better and for worse.
7/10
Review by: Calum McMillian
