I’ve previously said F451 are a frustrating beast and again I’m inclined to agree. There’s a Living End-meets-Billy Talent-esque feel to the 3-tracks on this record and while they’re more accomplished than any of the other songs the band have so far put out, I still feel it’s not quite as good as it should be. It’s difficult to say exactly what’s wrong too, it’s just a certain something I can’t quite put my finger on. ‘We Are Youth’, for example, is catchy and punchy, as is ‘Bass and Bombs’.
Two competent songs, two semi-large hooks – but there’s something missing which would take this band from ‘not quite there’ to ‘we’re here’. Still, this is better than anything the band have done yet and if they continue the rate of progress, expect F451 to knock us out on the next record.