Banner Pilot are back with their fourth studio album, ‘Souvenir’, and with distinctive vocals, a consistent up-beat tempo, and a heavy nod to late 90’s punk-rock, it’s a very welcome return.
‘Modern Shakes’ is a strong opening track and one that quickly sees the band settle back into their groove – solid verses backed with uncomplicated but effective guitar riffs, a quicker yet melodic chorus, and a fairly progressive bridge section. This formula works well for the band and it’s used to good effect on both ‘Effigy’ and ‘Dead Tracks’. They do mix it up occasionally as ‘Shoreline’ and ‘Colfax’ testify. Both tracks are more considered and melodic in their verses and it’s a nice change of pace and focus.
You could argue that they’ve taken a rather safe approach here but it’s the subtle changes in the vocal delivery heading into a chorus that keeps the energy going throughout and this has become a hallmark of Banner Pilot tracks in recent years. ‘Fireproof’ is the perfect example of this – it’s a good punk-rock track that improves considerably once the chorus kicks in. Front man Nick Johnson has a really individual voice and it adds heaps of character to ‘Souvenir’ at all the right moments.
2011’s ‘Heart Beat Pacific’ confirmed Minnesota’s Banner Pilot as one of the most exciting punk-rock bands of the year, and whilst ‘Souvenir’ isn’t a dramatic departure in terms of style and structure it’s just as enjoyable.
TOM BECK