Look at what’s on that album cover: sunshine, people holding hands, a bobble hat… Before we’ve even taken a listen, there’s plenty of hints at what this EP is going to sound like. Yep, you guessed it: this is pop-punk at its finest.
We had an exclusive look at On The Open Road’s video for ‘Rainy Days’ in February and were instantly fans of the band. Now their eight track EP ‘Storyteller’ has been self-released, we can all get our fill of huge, old school anthems from a genre ever-increasing in popularity.
Shouting out, “our story will be told,” the opener ‘Chump!’ wastes no time packing a punch in its short-lived 59 seconds and sets the tone for the rest of the record. Fun and boisterous, with plenty of shout-along opportunities, ‘No Rush’ and ‘Smooth Sailing Is A Fool…’ cement the way for a plentiful supply of frantic, noisy treats.
It sounds like the band are going to take a slower turn with ‘Bedrock’ but you’ve got no chance for a rest here. Every song sounds messy but meticulously thought out and has the charm of bands we’ve always loved: crazy but controlled and wild but melodic.
‘The Worst Guy’ ends the EP as it started – raucously and rowdily – but with a surprising beat down and screaming vocals that somehow don’t feel out of place. Despite the pop tendencies, the sound of the EP gets pretty heavy at times and it’s the juxtaposition between that two that’ll win you over.
They’ve received plenty of comparisons to Blink-182, but its lead singer Tom Hawk’s vocals with the biggest similarity: Americanised and uncannily similar to the Tom of the Delonge variety, it’s an unmistakably nostalgic sound. The huge choruses and unapologetic songs make them a perfect choice for fans of modern, rockier pop-punk, like Four Year Strong and Set Your Goals.
‘Storyteller’ is a generous EP that’ll blow your socks off and give lovers of heavier pop-punk their fix. On The Open Road’s mix of old and new styles in the genre, and combination of pop and heavier sounds, are gonna make the road ahead a good one.
KATHRYN BLACK