Rising form the ashes of SpeakYourHeart are Hold The Fight, a pop-punk quartet based in Eastbourne. Although they may hail from a sleepy coastal town, the music this four-piece have created is jam-packed with mass amounts of energy and vibrancy; it will crash over you in wonderfully executed waves.
Launching this four-track release is the well crafted ‘Hey Alaska, Let’s be Lovers’ which, despite displaying a level of talent that is undeniable, opens this EP in nothing more than average style. The vocals come into play at the 30 second mark to fantastic effect. Hitting crisp, sharp, high notes, the lyrics are sung beautifully and soar seamlessly over the catchy and infectious guitars that play amicably alongside fast clattering drums; thus, creating an instantly likeable sound. However, the transitions in this song from one section to another, sound disjointed – as though they’ve been cut and pasted together, which regrettably brings the whole track down a touch.
‘Who Taught You To Dance Like That?’ easily overshadows it’s forerunner, and raises your initial perception of this group. Opening with those concise and seemingly flawless vocals, frantic drumming and weighty sunny riffs immediately ensue, offering a hefty slice of dexterous and delectable music, that i’m certain any pop-punk fan would lap up favourably. This track is without a doubt the best on the EP and offers 2 minutes and 50 seconds of fast-paced, frenzied musicianship that is practically overflowing with youthful exuberance.
The third track present on this release is entitled ‘You’re Gunna Need Subtitles’ and follows ‘Who Taught You…’ in an uncannily similar fashion, presenting little in the way of evolution. Luckily, the full optimistic riffs, and vast jovial vocals save this track from descending into mind-numbing monotony. At the 1 minute 20 seconds mark we hear some differentiation, as the band unleash an almost anthemic piece of music complete with insanely powerful vocal work, which you can imagine being played at a Summer festival to hordes of adoring fans.
‘Just So You Know I Lost My Balance’ closes this EP and displays Hold The Fights real penchant for melody, with mellow haunting guitars playing beautifully, and harmonising perfectly. This goes on for a substantial amount of time before we witness any greater musical elements, and you find yourself wondering if you’re going to slip into a stupor. When the band finally come together as a collective, the result falls a little short of the mark, as it merely sounds like more of the same. Although it is polished, full of energetic optimism, and the musical skill cannot be questioned, it sticks too closely to the pop-punk template and possesses little innovation.
Hold The Fight have created a blissfully exuberant and vivid sound, that wil fill you with an unadultered sense of happiness after the first listen, and will stick in your head in an infuriating yet delightful way. However, this quartet need to offer the listener some variation, rather than regurgitating the same sound time and again.
Rated: 7/10
http://elysiummedia.webs.com/apps/blog/show/7537583-hold-
Hide
