This two-tracker would appear to be so hot off the press that not only is there no artwork, but the songs don’t even have names yet! ‘Guess How Much I’d Miss You’ is the new release from Chasing daylight and contains two hook-filled songs that certainly builds on the promise of their last release. At the time, Ben @ Punktastic described ‘(Emotional Words) Best Heard In Left Ear’ as “impressive” and awarded four stars. I can see why now. While this new short and sharp sample of the band’s new material is anything but groundbreaking, Chasing Daylight show they have a mean talent for writing a catchy hook. The punchy guitar riffs are clever and inventive, while the dual vocals remind me of bands such as Antifreeze. They are very American in tone, but that doesn’t bother me as muich as it does some. It doesn’t sound forced at all, and so on that score they certainly don’t lose points, even if at times the vocals don’t quite hit the right notes.
The first song is punchy and fast of pace, showcasing a melodic skate punk sound with a rough edge. The production is well balanced and, rather niftily, the bass is high in the mix which I always like. As I said, the vocals, at times, miss their intended target, but at least the two-way harmonies work and are adventurous. Track two is more of the same, starting off accoustically before speeding up with a technical guitar riff. While Ben compared the band to acts like Brand New, Rival Schools and Strike Anywhere, I would say there’s much more of a skate punk influence in there. I’m not sure if that’s a deliberate change of sound or a mature move on, but either way the results are impressive.
I’m yet to see if Chasing Daylight can pull this off live, but the two tracks here show they would be a band to watch out for in the future. Gaining a fanbase outside their home town is now a neccessity and if they want to make their mark, a hard slog on the UK circuit is essential. However, there’s enough here to suggest the band could do something should they wish to…
Paul