These days we chuck around the term pop-punk a lot. The term is all encompassing and often isn’t a reliable descriptor for the bands that are tagged as such. Break Anchor however wear this title proudly and do their best to give pop-punk the good name it deserves.
This album is not saccharine sweet or a constant barrage of ballads. Neither is it brutal, or a speed fest. Instead it finds itself a comfortable niche somewhere in the middle. Gruff vocals and chunky riffs drive things along nicely and especially come into their own on the more energetic tracks such as ‘I’m Sorry’ and ‘Beyond Occupy’. This isn’t to say that the sound is harsh or abrasive, quite the opposite in fact. The pop in this band comes from a meticulously crafted sound and just right harmonies throughout.
The album isn’t all speed and “woahs” however, almost sequentially taking turns to slow down the pace to offer tales of heartache and by their own admission ‘First World Problems’. Thankfully the dip in speed and energy doesn’t equate to a dip in quality and tunes like ‘Fell Apart’ and ‘Down and Out’ are enjoyable in a serene way that may not get you jumping up and down on the dance floor but sure will net you that kiss as you slow dance with your crush.
Having followed Break Anchor through a series of fun but not overly memorable EPs on Bandcamp it’s great to hear their debut album have some real standout tracks to get your teeth into. One or two of the songs, ‘Gone’ (an opening track from an earlier EP) most notably fall back on one two many genre clichés to be too enjoyable and may warrant skipping past to the far more engaging tunes later on.
Depending on the narrowness of people’s musical tastes this album may be difficult to swallow if you are only looking for one of the two distinct musical styles that Break Anchor switch between. Although, anyone with a love for both fast-paced high octane punk and a more Jimmy Eat World esque melodic affair will find a lot to love here.
DAN PETERS