The Action Plan
Garry from SAN PR recently dropped us a line letting us know about South West based punk unit The Action Plan, a band who are set to break with the release of their debut album, Never Say Die, due out on the 10th of December. Drawing influence from the likes of Blink 182, Fallout Boy and Set Your Goals, this is a band who are out there producing the sort of punk rock which you know is going to sway people in their direction. Combining hooky choruses with guitar parts and hammering beats, this is a debut album which promises a lot on paper, but does the music deliver?
Opening with Hometown Hero (the video to which is below) we’re immediately thrust into a punky, up beat melee of hammering guitar lines, catchy vocals and pounding rhythms, the mix forming into something which is easy to listen to, guaranteed to get people moving, and the sort of thing which people are going to connect with from the word go. The catchiness of this track is the key selling point, offering up the sort of thing which is going to get people singing along, dancing and joining in with what’s going on, it’s like a hybrid of New Found Glory and Blink 182, all combined with the bands unique approach to things. As an album opener this does what is should, grabs your attention and makes you want to hear more! More comes in the form of Believe it or Not, a track which slows things down initially, moving away from the hammering mix of the first track and fading out for a moment, just to lure you into a false sense of security. It doesn’t last though, and soon enough we’re thrown back into the upbeat hammering approach of pop punk fuelled riffs, pounding drums and vocals which will have you singing along before you know it. Another track which is easy to listen to and connect with, this one reminded me of a band I saw years back called Brodie, there’s that upbeat punk approach which you know is going to accompany a damned good time.
Had It All comes up as the next track on the album and once again continues to push the bar for the album, this time combining the riffs with an electronic approach behind the scenes for a moment, but all the time letting you know that what you’re hearing is The Action Plan. Suggesting more of an emotional edge to things in this track, there’s something about it which builds on the sense of depth which runs through the track, the sort of feel that makes you listen harder to make sure you don’t miss anything, and the sort of thing which is going to propel these guys into the spotlight. Definitely a track that’s going to work live, this is a high point on the album for sure, and a track you need to make sure you check out. Live Strong pushes all the slower elements out the window and throws us straight into a hammering punk melee full of hooks, hammering drums and moments which are going to make you want to get down to a gig to join in. Close your eyes as this track plays out and you’re presented with images of jumping crowds, a band owning a venue, and a real sense of damned good fun, it’s another track which is going to set this lot apart from the usual crowd.
Never Say Die and This One both continue the punk stylings of the band, each track coming as another sound bite of what the band are capable of and showing us what we’re in for at a live show, but it’s when So You Say comes into being that another serious high point on the album is achieved. Once again forming a track which harks towards the more emotional side of the band, this is another which will sit you back and get you thinking, the sort of track which doesn’t so much get you moving as listening, instead allowing you a moment to take in the album so far. Standing out as another serious high point on the album, this track is one of my personal favourites for sure, the sort of track which shows off the bands ability and leaves no doubt that we need to be keeping an eye on them from here on. It’s only then left to Suits And Ties to close things, finishing the album with a more ‘out there’ style and presenting us with one final side of the band, a darker and more intricate side which, if I’m honest, I didn’t see coming! Opening with orchestral effects before launching into another punk fuelled track designed to get people moving, the closing moments on the album almost show a new sense of maturity in the band, almost like an insight into the direction they’re moving towards. Closing with a final hurrah which almost acts as a crescendo to the album, the only thing left to do is to go back through it all again, just to take it all in once again!
Pop punk is one of those genres that has been done to death in recent years, with loads of bands producing mass market music which, all too often, misses the point of the genre and becomes something too far removed from its origins. That’s not happened here with The Action Plan, and the result is an album which is good fun, radio friendly but also honest and true to the bands roots. If you’re looking for a new band to check out then you won’t go far wrong here, definitely one we need to be keeping an eye on moving forwards.
Check out the video to Hometown Hero below, and click HERE to check out the bands Facebook page.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Hometown Hero (the video to which is below) we’re immediately thrust into a punky, up beat melee of hammering guitar lines, catchy vocals and pounding rhythms, the mix forming into something which is easy to listen to, guaranteed to get people moving, and the sort of thing which people are going to connect with from the word go. The catchiness of this track is the key selling point, offering up the sort of thing which is going to get people singing along, dancing and joining in with what’s going on, it’s like a hybrid of New Found Glory and Blink 182, all combined with the bands unique approach to things. As an album opener this does what is should, grabs your attention and makes you want to hear more! More comes in the form of Believe it or Not, a track which slows things down initially, moving away from the hammering mix of the first track and fading out for a moment, just to lure you into a false sense of security. It doesn’t last though, and soon enough we’re thrown back into the upbeat hammering approach of pop punk fuelled riffs, pounding drums and vocals which will have you singing along before you know it. Another track which is easy to listen to and connect with, this one reminded me of a band I saw years back called Brodie, there’s that upbeat punk approach which you know is going to accompany a damned good time.
Had It All comes up as the next track on the album and once again continues to push the bar for the album, this time combining the riffs with an electronic approach behind the scenes for a moment, but all the time letting you know that what you’re hearing is The Action Plan. Suggesting more of an emotional edge to things in this track, there’s something about it which builds on the sense of depth which runs through the track, the sort of feel that makes you listen harder to make sure you don’t miss anything, and the sort of thing which is going to propel these guys into the spotlight. Definitely a track that’s going to work live, this is a high point on the album for sure, and a track you need to make sure you check out. Live Strong pushes all the slower elements out the window and throws us straight into a hammering punk melee full of hooks, hammering drums and moments which are going to make you want to get down to a gig to join in. Close your eyes as this track plays out and you’re presented with images of jumping crowds, a band owning a venue, and a real sense of damned good fun, it’s another track which is going to set this lot apart from the usual crowd.
Never Say Die and This One both continue the punk stylings of the band, each track coming as another sound bite of what the band are capable of and showing us what we’re in for at a live show, but it’s when So You Say comes into being that another serious high point on the album is achieved. Once again forming a track which harks towards the more emotional side of the band, this is another which will sit you back and get you thinking, the sort of track which doesn’t so much get you moving as listening, instead allowing you a moment to take in the album so far. Standing out as another serious high point on the album, this track is one of my personal favourites for sure, the sort of track which shows off the bands ability and leaves no doubt that we need to be keeping an eye on them from here on. It’s only then left to Suits And Ties to close things, finishing the album with a more ‘out there’ style and presenting us with one final side of the band, a darker and more intricate side which, if I’m honest, I didn’t see coming! Opening with orchestral effects before launching into another punk fuelled track designed to get people moving, the closing moments on the album almost show a new sense of maturity in the band, almost like an insight into the direction they’re moving towards. Closing with a final hurrah which almost acts as a crescendo to the album, the only thing left to do is to go back through it all again, just to take it all in once again!
Pop punk is one of those genres that has been done to death in recent years, with loads of bands producing mass market music which, all too often, misses the point of the genre and becomes something too far removed from its origins. That’s not happened here with The Action Plan, and the result is an album which is good fun, radio friendly but also honest and true to the bands roots. If you’re looking for a new band to check out then you won’t go far wrong here, definitely one we need to be keeping an eye on moving forwards.
Check out the video to Hometown Hero below, and click HERE to check out the bands Facebook page.
Words: Dave Nicholls