The press release for this CD contains another variation on the now standard issue PR phrase describing another band who try to mix breakdowns and pop punk – this time the words ‘hardcore-inspired PMA pop-punk stylings’ are used to label the work of 5 piece Newport band Save Your Breath.
But I think Save Your Breath are a fair bit more than another statistic in the most overrun UK punkrock sub-genre right now. There are a lot of bands with much less talent, spending money on myspace bots to get their plays up kicking around giving pop-punk to the masses than this lot. They have a tinge of early 90s Dischord bands to them, to mix in the melting pot with the nod to New Found Glory et al. There is something a little bit epic about the wash of guitars, and the occasional double speed part to keep things varied and interesting. Its not a future-shaping change of direction, but there is a sense of identity to this lot – which is the very minimum you need I think when there are just so many bands trying to do the same thing.
The press release also says this is out in March on Billie Joe’s Adeline records in the US, so sounds like justice done to me. This will make this band as big as a UK punk band can get I reckon – it’s not the most intense piece of music you will ever hear, but its got a lot of character.
Mike