Built from the ashes of old bands, One More Year have spent just over creating debut EP, ‘The View From Where I Stand’. The EP manages to blend pop punk and post hardcore into a stunning amalgamation of the genres, and it shows that One More Year aren’t fumbling clumsily with the various styles. Opening track, ‘Stay Awake/Stay Afloat’, immediately grabs the attention of any listener, and with a whirlwind of energised guitars, catchy lyrics and vocals it fits smugly into the high energy feel of the release in general.
Try to think of the last successful band to come out of Northampton. You can’t, right? With the release of ‘The View From Where I Stand,’ that could be soon to change. Throughout the EP the band show plenty of diversity, with ‘Winter’s Heart’ being a particularly notable track due to Will Cooper’s soaring vocals and the time perfect drumming gluing everything together.
Closing track ‘Alcolols with Scott Lockhart’ features guest vocals from – perhaps unsurprisingly – Scott Lockheart of Voices From The Fuselage. Lockheart was also the talent who produced, mixed and mastered ‘The View From Where I Stand’, and though his addition to the track isn’t one to be expected since the styles of both bands are so very different, Scott’s vocal additions do add an extra, slightly darker dynamic to the track. It adds yet another element of diversity to the release.
Having already shared stages with the likes of Set Your Goals, Hildamay, Palm Reader and Marmozets, it is seemingly written that One More Year will be spreading their roots across the UK soon, and if their live translation of this EP is anywhere near as good as on record, you’d better hope you catch them soon before they blow up.
CHERI FAULKNER