Sheffield’s THE ROOKIE LEAGUE play an infectiously bouncy breed of pop-punk with melodic-hardcore leanings, in the vein of The Movielife (singer Matt has a similar vocal delivery to Vinnie Caruana) and New Found Glory. They wear these influences proudly on their sleeves, even name-checking NFG on ‘The Hard Goodbye’, but they’re not just pale imitators, as they showcase on this EP.
Drummer Shane frequently strays from the standard punk-drumming style, particularly on ‘Fierce Allegiance’, throwing in multiple changes and utilising rim shots / taps into his beats, driving the songs but pushing the drums into lead-instrument status in places. In the same song, a breakdown leads into gang vocal chants, drawing comparisons to some of Set Your Goals finest moments. The song writing is clear & well structured, with one listen being all that is needed to lodge the songs of ‘Sinking The FriendShip’ firmly in the head.
ROGER HOLLAND