After a year and a half of groundwork, the London hopefuls in Home Advantage come out of the woodworks with their carved debut effort, the Cadet EP, through Disconnect Disconnect Records.
With all bands, there is typically an initial period in their history where the raw and impromptu notions of practice room rehearsals manifest and ferment musically on their sound. Home Advantage channel this rawness perfectly in a way where the sound enhances the angst in their songs.
Opener, “Short-Termism” is startling from the beginning of vocalist Ross Shroff's drawn-out croon, burrowing you into a world of clarity while you listen to Cadet. The EP is bridled with solid, fast-paced, blistering melodic songs (“Youth Theatre” and “Ropeswing”); a guaranteed delight to those glutton for the bare bones of ruckus melodic punk rock - no need to hold your breath any longer.
There is a distinct charm that constantly prods you in an endearing way throughout the duration of Cadet. The refreshing sound that Home Advantage display is commendable. Never before has the early moments of Tell All Your Friends-era Taking Back Sunday been emulated so accurately in a refreshing way. This couldn’t be more apparent on the darker moments of “Markers From Home”, where Shroff lashes his tongue around the words “Starting to worry we’ll be caught in the act, but it’s so hard to say "no" when you look like that...”, in a cocky snarl.
Towards the end of Cadet, the brightest moment appears in the form of “(The Sands Of) San Lorenzo” during the shift and transition into the overwhelming chorus, which reigns in radiant glistening light. Unfortunately, on the closer, “Barriers”, Home Advantage seem to lose the momentum set on previous tracks and the band starts to grab hold of the elongated reigns of filler.
On Cadet, Home Advantage display a distinct endearing sound showing nothing but promise.
Tracklist:
1. Short-Termism
2. Youth Theatre
3. Markers From Home
4. Ropeswing
5. (The Sands Of) San Lorenzo
6. Barriers
RIYL: Tell All Your Friends-era Taking Back Sunday, early dark moments of Daggermouth
Rating:
Written by Aaron Akeredolu
