Going Away Party – ‘Going Away Party’

It is rare that at a relatively small level bands get to record their debut album and release it through a label, but that is exactly what Going Away Party have already achieved in their short time together. Their Self Titled album will be released through UK Punk Rock label Disconnect Disconnect Records, setting the bands future up to look highly promising. Going Away Party combine punk and emo influences, such as Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral and a love of simplistic, raw, emotive music to create their unique sound.

The opening track on the album, ‘Punk Rock Rick’, is a definitive highlight. The song begins slow, calm and sentimental before changing after a minute into an upbeat emo track full of twinkly riffs, punchy drums and grizzly vocals. Going Away Party have mastered writing foot tapping beats and catchy lyrics that will have you singing along before you know it and they show this off during their intro track – try not listening to the rest of the album (or that song again) after listening to that. 

‘Stitches’ is the first time on the album that Going Away Party introduce their mellow side. This seems to come very naturally for them as these types of songs appear a few more times on the album (such as ‘Wyoming’ and ‘Bro’s’) and the band haven’t just tried to make ‘that one sad song’ some bands feel compelled to write. The young trio are greatly talented songwriters that really understand how to write varied and distinctive emo songs, making them accessible to many fans of the broad punk and emo genres.

The final track, ‘Paper Planes’ is highly disparate in comparison to the rest of the album. If the occasional mellower song didn’t appear, it is unlikely this song wouldn’t be able to fit amongst the rest. The highly simple construction of one guitar, singing and backing vocals works to create a beautifully organic and emotional song, summing up not only how Going Away Party write their music, but their understanding of their identity as a band and their style.

Going Away Party is an excellent debut from the Slough punks, full of passion, heart break, sing alongs and riffs. The band show their diversity throughout the album through different songs, whether they be slow and heartfelt or fast and fun, whilst still demonstrating the overall sound and style they have worked to create together as devoted and skilful songwriters.

OLIVIA DYTOR