Since signing to No Panic! Records, there’s been a steady buzz of anticipation surrounding Norwich’s Standing Tall. Over the last five years, they’ve used their touring experience with bands such as Hawthorne Heights, Tigers Jaw, and Foxing to really hone their sound and, because of this, the quartet have garnered comparisons to some of the greatest emo bands in the history of music, such as Thrice and Brand New to name a few.
And, upon listening to their self-titled effort, which was produced by Neil Kennedy and Daley George from The Ranch Production House, it’s not at all difficult to see why they’ve drawn these comparisons.
Opener ‘Do You Feel Low’ is a rather melancholy track, but don’t let that fool you. Beneath the intricate riffs and steady, tight drum work, this track still simmers with power, which pretty much explodes when their huge chorus comes into play, with lyrics of, “Do you feel low/does it rain down on you/oh, do you feel low.”
‘I Should Have Listened to My Friends’ is chock-full of catchy melodies and punchy choruses, while ‘Letting Go’ simply roars to life. ‘Are You Really There’ is simply awe-inspiring – their riffs are robust and mighty, and the vocals are simply outstanding. They really shine through on this standout track.
Standing Tall end with ‘Make It Through the Night’, which really ramps up the tempo and energy; it’s a passionate and driven track that ends this release on a high note. It won’t be long before these guys make even bigger waves throughout the industry.
JESS TAGLIANI