The Pop Punk scene is bursting at the seams with brand new bands and huge new sounds breaking through every day. We're beginning to see shows sell out to 3000 kids that we'd seen play in a basement to 200 kids just a few years ago. But the question is, how do we separate the great from the good? How do you stay remembered in the sea of up and coming and veteran Pop Punk heavyweights? Detroit Ska Punkers, We Are The Union seem to have figured out the answer with their shiny new record.
Although, being the follow up album to 2010's (not so) Great Leaps Forward, it's nice to hear the familiar contrast between the raw aggression and and bouncy brass section that takes us back to the fresh, hard hitting sound of their debut album, 2007's Who We Are.
Dust On The Hourglass sets the tone of You Can't Hide The Sun with a touch of bright Ska and a bucket load of major key, crisp guitar harmonies that bring the styles of The Story So Far to mind. Finding it's strengths in huge lyrical hitters like "Different Seasons, severed spines. The crucifixion in your mind" and "You occupy, one space in time. This wicked world left you behind" track one gives you a pretty good idea of what's to come, and it only gets better from here.
Next in line, and deserving of the title Catchiest Song Of 2012 is I Want You To Hit Me As Hard You Can. Slapping you in the face right off the mark is a warm and refreshing Ska riff over a punchy Pop Punk intro. Matched with a bashy chorus and meaty gang vocals, this recipe for a Ska explosion meets in the middle to bring you a perfectly harmonized mash up of all it's best qualities that begins with a "Fuck the world, it shows me no love. This life has only just begun."
The comically titled If I Can't Smoke Or Swear, I'm Fucked can be found strategically placed in the middle of the album as if to say, "we're not done with you yet". Boasting racy Punk drums, massive one-liners like "dying isn't living, is it?", a face melting guitar solo and a Ska-tinge that could convert a die hard Death Metal fan, it becomes apparent how big a punch You Can't Hide The Sun actually carries.
The Ghost That Haunted Me leaves you on a quieter note. Positive goodbyes sang with a "Time only moves forward, so why waste it on the bad days?" and ballad styled chunky major riffs prepare you to skip back to Dust On The Hourglass and listen to this Ska Punk giant all over again.
Though the quantity of Ska influence isn't as apparent as some dominantly Ska Punk bands, it's the quality that grabs you by the ears. The instrumental ...And Fuck The Rest and intro to Delta. Oscar. Whiskey. November. almost lets you forget you're listening to a Pop Punk band, delivering a swanky, almost-Reggae bounce. You can definitely rely on We Are The Union to air out some of those stale and overdone Pop Punk riffs with a bit of refreshing, happy-go-lucky Ska.
When compared to previous albums, Yoi Can't Hide The Sun does the leaping forward 2010's Great Leap Forward couldn't do, but instead will prove to impress old school fans with its 2007's Who We Are-inspired epic sing-alongs, major key beat downs, unforgettable melodies and an added clean, crisp and clear production quality.
No matter if you're an old school fan or just dig Ska Punk, don't walk past this bad boy when it hits shelves on the 16th October.
Tracklist:
1. Dust On The Hourglass
2. I Want You To Hit Me As Hard As You Can
3. Live Like Mitch
4. 415 In Progress
5. Hellbound & Helpless
6. If I Can’t Smoke Or Swear, I’m Fucked
7. Dead End
8. Do What You Love...
9. ...And Fuck The Rest
10. Delta. Oscar. Whiskey. November.
11. The Ghost That Haunted Me
Rating:
Written by John Floreani
