Better Left Alone
We were recently contacted by Preston based 5 piece Better Left Along, a pop-punk band recently described as ‘like Finch at their poppiest’ and stating their music as a mix between Funeral For A Friend and Kids In Glass Houses. Seeing as they were good enough to send through their album and being known for energy filled, fun live shows and catchy hooks, I figured it was only right to check out their self titled EP to see what was on offer!
Opening with This Road the EP immediately kicks off jumpy and punk fuelled, riffs leading the way whilst drums roll around in the back ground and the bass backs everything up. New Found Glory spring to mind as the vocals kick in, keeping everything clean yet somehow still keeping that punky edge there in the forefront to drive the track home to the listener. Catchy hooks spring up all over the place as the track progresses from the dual vocal lines to the different styles of guitars incorporated throughout, the mix you end up with is music to kick back in the sun with a beer to – and it’s damned good to hear. The middle section features a guitar solo which I really didn’t expect, it fits perfectly with the song and leads into a more laid back melodic section, almost a brief respite to allow you to catch your breath. The most striking thing here though is how melodic these guys have managed to get this section to be, it’s really provocative and will make you really sit back and just listen. Finishing as it began, this is a track which isn’t offensive, isn’t hardcore or over the top, but is just something which you can quite happily sit back and listen to.
Wanna Talk follows on in much the same way, fading into being with vocals and guitars initially then kicking in fully with the full impact of the band. Catchy once again, this track equals the first track musically but almost holds more power somehow, I think the bass is a little higher in the mix which really pushes this track home, whatever it is it works! A couple of listens later and I found myself chanting along with this track, something which I’m sure will make this hugely successful on the live scene and a track which the band will become known for. As the track closes and Move Forward kicks in, once again everything is set sludgy and punk fuelled, opening with those epic guitar lines and pounding drums once again. The vocals once again steal the show, keeping everything clean and accessible. Make sure you check out the palm muted section of guitar combined with the vocals, the mix is downright anthemic and puts this track alongside the best of the pop-punk bands out there. Another track which is sure to get live venues jumping, this is possibly my favourite track from the EP and one which I recommend you get out there and listen to if you get a chance. It’s almost Fall Out Boy in sound, but seems almost elevated above that simple tag…
Positives comes in at number 4 and continues the theme of the album so far perfectly, opening fast paced and driving the message home through the continual riffs hammering out from the speakers. Far more complex than a simple punk track, different layers of vocals bounce around as the guitars rove around the necks, the drums pound and the bass backs everything up, again this is a track which seems massive as you listen to it, there’s so much going on yet it all works in perfect harmony. Soon enough though we’re onto final track We Will Never Know, another punk fuelled track which pulls you in from the outset and makes sure you’re kept engaged until the second it comes to a close. Powerful vocals soar over the backing music creating a track which is once again catchy and powerful, but also memorable in the best possible way – once you’ve listened to it a few times you’ll find yourself wandering around humming or singing it, it gets stuck right in the back of your mind and you can’t help it! As a final track to the EP it seems to summarise everything which has come before it, almost as if to say ‘this is us, this is what we can do and soon enough, there’s going to be more!’
I like a bit of pop-punk style stuff from time to time, it takes me back a few years to the first times I was going to festivals and the like, and this music is exactly that sort of thing. You want to be somewhere sunny, somewhere with a beer and somewhere generally having a damned good time! This music isn’t heavy or over distorted, what it is is well written, well produced and well performed music which you’re simply going to enjoy – and I can’t wait to hear more.
To find out more about Better Left Alone, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Opening with This Road the EP immediately kicks off jumpy and punk fuelled, riffs leading the way whilst drums roll around in the back ground and the bass backs everything up. New Found Glory spring to mind as the vocals kick in, keeping everything clean yet somehow still keeping that punky edge there in the forefront to drive the track home to the listener. Catchy hooks spring up all over the place as the track progresses from the dual vocal lines to the different styles of guitars incorporated throughout, the mix you end up with is music to kick back in the sun with a beer to – and it’s damned good to hear. The middle section features a guitar solo which I really didn’t expect, it fits perfectly with the song and leads into a more laid back melodic section, almost a brief respite to allow you to catch your breath. The most striking thing here though is how melodic these guys have managed to get this section to be, it’s really provocative and will make you really sit back and just listen. Finishing as it began, this is a track which isn’t offensive, isn’t hardcore or over the top, but is just something which you can quite happily sit back and listen to.
Wanna Talk follows on in much the same way, fading into being with vocals and guitars initially then kicking in fully with the full impact of the band. Catchy once again, this track equals the first track musically but almost holds more power somehow, I think the bass is a little higher in the mix which really pushes this track home, whatever it is it works! A couple of listens later and I found myself chanting along with this track, something which I’m sure will make this hugely successful on the live scene and a track which the band will become known for. As the track closes and Move Forward kicks in, once again everything is set sludgy and punk fuelled, opening with those epic guitar lines and pounding drums once again. The vocals once again steal the show, keeping everything clean and accessible. Make sure you check out the palm muted section of guitar combined with the vocals, the mix is downright anthemic and puts this track alongside the best of the pop-punk bands out there. Another track which is sure to get live venues jumping, this is possibly my favourite track from the EP and one which I recommend you get out there and listen to if you get a chance. It’s almost Fall Out Boy in sound, but seems almost elevated above that simple tag…
Positives comes in at number 4 and continues the theme of the album so far perfectly, opening fast paced and driving the message home through the continual riffs hammering out from the speakers. Far more complex than a simple punk track, different layers of vocals bounce around as the guitars rove around the necks, the drums pound and the bass backs everything up, again this is a track which seems massive as you listen to it, there’s so much going on yet it all works in perfect harmony. Soon enough though we’re onto final track We Will Never Know, another punk fuelled track which pulls you in from the outset and makes sure you’re kept engaged until the second it comes to a close. Powerful vocals soar over the backing music creating a track which is once again catchy and powerful, but also memorable in the best possible way – once you’ve listened to it a few times you’ll find yourself wandering around humming or singing it, it gets stuck right in the back of your mind and you can’t help it! As a final track to the EP it seems to summarise everything which has come before it, almost as if to say ‘this is us, this is what we can do and soon enough, there’s going to be more!’
I like a bit of pop-punk style stuff from time to time, it takes me back a few years to the first times I was going to festivals and the like, and this music is exactly that sort of thing. You want to be somewhere sunny, somewhere with a beer and somewhere generally having a damned good time! This music isn’t heavy or over distorted, what it is is well written, well produced and well performed music which you’re simply going to enjoy – and I can’t wait to hear more.
To find out more about Better Left Alone, check out their Facebook page HERE.