It’s not that often you see four bands get together to release a split record, and when it does happen, you end up with (a tricky decision on which band to label it under and) an album’s worth of material that gives each band ample opportunity to showcase what they’re all about.
Kicking off the split is GREY AREA, with their latter track ‘Bad Anything’ proving to be the undoubted best of the two. It’s pretty much paint by numbers pop punk that doesn’t push any boundaries or offer anything new, but it’s good in the way that pop punk is always good.
Up next is THE REVELING, who do offer something different. ‘Trust Me’ sounds like HOSTAGE CALM mixed with a bit of CRAZY ARM, and at only a minute and a half long it does the job of informing the listener of exactly what they’re about. It’s most definitely a hit, and THE REVELING could very well be making waves in the near future.
Remember when we said pop punk is always good? Well, say hello to THE COPYRIGHTS, probably the most well-known band on this split. They’re a band that pretty much defines pop punk in its most basic form – there’s no defending of a genre here and what they offer with their two tracks is two complete and utter hits. It’s great.
Wrapping up the split is LUTHER, and as with THE REVELING they offer something a bit different to the band before them – it’s refreshing to hear. Their tracks are part rock, part punk, and come with sing-alongs aplenty. They round off this showcase of up and coming bands wonderfully, and you expect to hear a lot more from all of the above in 2012 – a good listen all round.
CHRIS MARSHMAN