Tag Archives: melodic punk

Reviews, Various

(review) Back Garden Light – Back Garden Light

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Back Garden Light were already featured on the pages of this zine, but this time, they released their new full length album. Hailing from Bordeaux and being formed in 2014 these guys manage to mix melodic punk, pop punk and metalcore in their music and they do it fantastic. This record contains 13 songs. What can we find here? Well, let us start with melodies. For all of us fans and us who love and grew up on melodic side of things, this one is a keeper. Epic melodies, both in guitar work and vocals which are harsh when needed and also emotional and melodic at the same time in song parts that make your skin crawl with goosebumps and make you wish for more. I am usually not an avid fan of metalcore, I am more on hardcore punk and skatepunk side of things, but this one is a keeper sounding energetic and modern at the same time, yet retaining that old school pop punk feeling. The lyrics are personal, but I can totally relate to them in many songs. My personal favorites are: The Right Side, On My Own and Live And Learn. Great record!

Reviews, Various

(review) Scott Sellers – Reality e.p.

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Scott Sellers is one of the most prolific musicians in punk rock scene right now, delivering new music very often and it is fascinating how he manages to make every of his releases sound awesome. This time there are five songs on this e.p. What to expect here? If you didn´t hear Scott´s music yet, it is melodic skate punk with many influences from those nice epic old school melodic punk records that I grew up on in the nineties when I was a teenage kid. The melodic guitar work is nice, enough technical to appeal to kids who love their skate punk more technical and prog, yet remaining with both feet in the old school considering the songwriting. Vocals are superb, backing vocal harmonies too. Songs are mainly fast, yet there is one slower called From the Wild which is one of my favorites on this record having soo sweet melody and chorus. Back to Reality is also one of my favorites, being so uplifting and having lyrics I can really relate to in my personal life. So, if you are a fan of Scott´s work, you will love this one, if you wasn´t before, you will be now.

https://scottsellers.bandcamp.com/

Reviews, Various

(review) El Mapache – Stay At Home e.p.

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El Mapache are melodic punk/pop punk band from Fredrikstad, Norway and this is their new e.p. containing five songs. When I think of Norway I usually first think of black metal, but Norway also has great hardcore and punk scene with Anti-Lam Front, Agenda and many others coming to mind right away. I am so happy that I listened to another awesome band from Norway. The music of El Mapache can be described as melodic punk rock, mid tempo and energetic with some pop punk influences in the song structures. Vocals are really nice, epic melodies and superb backing vocal harmonies. But, to me these guys sound a lot like Misfits. Not lyrically, but musically. Opening and closing guitar of the title song reminded me of Astro Zombies by Misfits. Also Tiny Blue reminded me a lot of newer Jerry Only fronted Misfits, especially in vocals department. To be clear, this is not a bad thing, this is good thing. I really don´t mean that El Mapache copied someone, quite the contrary, songs are strong and well written and I love this release, I am really looking forward to the full length in the future. My personal favorite that I listened to over and over again is Don´t Quit Your Dayjob with such nice lyrics and melody, that made me smile with joy. Passion is the song that picks just that, passion and punk rock energy, love, scene and fantastic songwriting. Madness closes the release in nice way, this song also reminds me of Misfits, but hey maybe that is only me and my weird brain. Anyway, great record, go listen and support!