Audiostrobelight is the only band that could get away with fusing together their natural affinity for pop punk, electronic pop, alt rock, and dance... all in the same songs. The Virginia Beach quintet can effortlessly pull off writing summery rock/pop tracks while incorporating a piano interlude and/or an electric violin in the mix. That is essentially what the band’s latest EP, What You’re Running From sounds like. Yes, that summation of the record’s overall sound may read as though the EP sounds like a clusterfuck of subgenres, but bear with us; the final product sounds pretty sweet. Will Pugh (Cartel)’s help as producer is easily discernible and even valuable to the overall quality of the record. What You’re Running From is a harmonious blend of the band’s numerous instrumental talents.
The unique musical style Audiostrobelight possesses makes it nearly impossible for their audience to divert their attention elsewhere. On this particular release, not one track resembles another. "Last Summer", the EP’s opener, is not your typical pop punk album introductory track -starting off with a slow tempo piano interlude, gradually picking up the pace and diving into the record as a different instrument and/or a more complex melody joins in. Audiostrobelight maintains the high energy "Last Summer" ends with throughout the remainder of the EP. The title-track and "It’s About To Get Real" excel in combining the fast-paced world of pop punk and the bouncy dance and synthesizer-infused elements of their overall sound (the latter having a very Yellowcard vibe throughout). "California Gold Rush" is the most single-worthy track on the record; it is just one of those songs that needs to be on your summer mixtape. The EP’s closing track, "We’ll Never Make It Out Alive" is a huge, powerhouse anthem -a culmination of all the various sounds the band introduced to their listeners during the first twenty minutes of the record- that ties the EP up rather nicely.
There couldn’t have been any better time for Audiostrobelight to release What You’re Running From. The EP the perfect record to add to your list of summer jams. The record is a solid notch for the band to add under their belts, and certainly builds more anticipation for the band to record a future full-length.
Tracklist:
1. Last Summer
2. What You're Running From
3. California Gold Rush
4. It's About To Get Real
5. Divisions
6. Never Say Never
7. We'll Never Make It Out Alive
RIYL: Forever The Sickest Kids, Cartel
Rating:
Written by Melissa Jones
