Since The Hotelier’s ‘Home Like Noplace Is There’ in 2014, it’s been hard not to hold every other release in the alternative, emo, and pop-punk scenes against that of the Massachusetts quartet. This resurgence in excellence in the alternative genre is something that’s been missing for a while now and this may be the downfall of Six Time Champion on their new self-released EP ‘More Than Me’.
The Brighton band, a fairly new name on the scene, suffer in their attempt to align themselves with the squeaky-clean, glittering guitars and breakdowns that have carried pop-punk safely along for the past couple of years. Although the five tracks come familiar and fast, they don’t offer anything boundary pushing or genre defining.
Then again, this may not be such a bad thing to some. The glowing popularity of bands like The Story So Far, Neck Deep and State Champs, who all possess the same particular brand of jump-in-the-air, slightly melancholic, mic-grabbing power-pop, prove there is doubtlessly an audience that will be excited by this new addition to the pop-punk landscape.
Such a willingness to conform actually allows for a layer of depth and sincerity to songs too and for all its flaws, ‘More Than Me’ comprises some well thought out, balanced tracks that show genuine talent and honesty. This a very young band that, although by no means at the top of their game, are showing some real glimpses of promise. Tracks ‘Lost’ and ‘Every Angle’ represent real high points for the band and are a perfect platform to push on from in the future.
If bands such as The Hotelier and Modern Baseball are stretching the boundaries of the alternative genre, Six Time Champion are happy to simply bathe in its past glories. ‘More Than Me’ might be sincere and tight in places, but if the scene is to continue in its current vein, records like this are in real danger of seeming a little tired and well-worn.
SEAN LITTLEWOOD