Middlesbrough pop-punk band Across All Oceans are on the verge of releasing their latest EP Homegrown. Coming in with just 5 tracks and a running time of just 12 minutes, there isn’t a whole lot to go by; but from what we can gather, the five-piece are definitely going places.
The music is very much a mix of pop/punk and with a hint of emo; the band themselves confess that the EP is about dealing with home life, with issues around depression and loss.
The EP starts with Everywhere But Home, and is about being left alone and having to deal with it; straightaway it feels like the music overpowers the vocals and at times they sound drowned out, which does slightly lessen the quality of the vocals because they are quite clever. The similar sound issues come through in Monophobia, where the theme and the vocals are good, just drowned out by the music.
Permanence follows this and starts with a standard guitar and drums opening, akin to something Green Day would begin a track with. This is one of the catchier tracks from the EP, but the themes are still as depressing with themes around conforming and expectation. Homegrown starts similarly with an opening similar to any pop-rock band from the last decade, however the song revolves around being left behind, with everyone around moving on and the protagonist ‘ going in circles’.
Eston Square completes the EP, and gives us the best indication of the band’s vocal range and blends a lot of the musical themes from the previous tracks into it.
You won’t confuse this record for any perky rock EP, it’s definitely not one to lift up the mood in a room! But we don’t mind because what this taster has given us is a look at what Across All Oceans can bring to the genre – and with a tried and tested approach they’ve managed to produce a thoroughly decent, if not slightly short, EP. They’re worth a listen and with tour dates in 2016, it doesn’t look like these guys are going to fade away.
7/10
Standout Track: Permanence
For Fans Of: Brand New, Taking Back Sunday
Written By: Omar Malick
