Hailing from Toulouse in the south of France, three piece band The Shapers are here with some solid pop-punk nostalgia in the form of their latest EP ‘Reckless Youth’ and are a fun example of the recent trend of continental punk bands gaining some UK traction (see, for example, Earl Grey).
These guys are offering up some classic sounding stuff, sacrificing the frantic The Story So Far-led hardcore stylings of this modern wave of pop punk for a familiar late 90’s/early 00’s sounds reminiscent of Jimmy Eat World, Yellowcard, Bowling For Soup and co.
There are no boundaries being broken or pushed here, more a shot straight in the centre as the EP plays like all your favourite teenage punk albums you downloaded in bits and pieces off Limewire. That said it doesn’t get boring, though of course you can see the similarities, it never sounds like a rip off or a covers band. These guys have their own endearing, messy sound and songs. They aren’t just rehashing all the old tricks, just telling us they’re still loved.
Opening the show we have ‘Can’t Forget’, the EPs flagship single. At first this sounds like a straightforward pop punk jam, a cross between a Sum 41 song and a self-titled area Blink track, though still with this band’s own distinct charm. Things rock along with a good four chord bash and catchy chorus when suddenly… what’s this? Everything just got quiet. Breakdowns are normal in pop punk songs but everything got echoey and I’m pretty sure the bass is an 808? Woah – dubstep drop!
The next two songs round off the first half of the EP. Less distinctive than their single counterpart, these two are still solid songs and fans of the band and genre will have no trouble with them. The second song, ‘Secrets’, goes a bit more in the alt route, with trashy drums and messy crunching discordant guitars in the verses and the chorus reverting back to some good old pop punk gang vocals.
‘Another Chance’ is another catchy pop punk fare full of angst and loneliness with a Zebrahead vibe. A big shout out goes to the solo, which, though part of an entirely different song in every other respect, manages to be a massive tribute to the epic ‘Hell Song’ solo by Sum 41. Even though it’s undeniably cheeky, it works.
The second half begins much softer. It starts with ‘Lonely Moments’, a pretty, acoustic instrumental that takes us away from the electric guitars and provides a lull in the volume that allows the next song, also acoustic but louder, to be a step up rather than down in energy.
It’s followed by ‘No Regrets’, an anthemic song that proves reminiscent of Man Overboard’s ‘Love Your Friends, Die Trying’. Starting slowly, not really grabbing you at first, but when you get to the meat it’s a really lovely song. As is typical of pop punk ballads, it’s sad yet optimistic and has a wonderfully catchy and pleasing gang vocal chorus.
The EP is rounded off with the dark ‘Youth Disaster’ that could be seen as this band’s ‘Stay Together For The Kids’, an ode to lost dreams and missed chances with a quiet brooding verse and massive chorus. A fitting end to a collection of songs that are a true love letter to the pop punk we grew up with, through the lens of a second language.
HOMER KELLY-TARRANT