Though perhaps feeling a bit thrown together in places, this five track EP from THE SPLASH does not shy from downright good ol’ pop-punk roots. As a listener, you feel quite guilty of being so judgemental and expecting to hear a bit of disaster on face value, so you get pleasantly surprised by quality amongst the comical lyrics and over-excited riffs (and that surely is what pop-punk music is “supposed” to be?).
Throughout, you get pangs of nostalgia and can’t help but think back to early BLINK-182 and know you are dealing with a band that do not really seem to take themselves, lyrically, seriously. With gems like “stop wasting your time trying to get signed, we know we’ll never be, that’s fine”, it’s all very silly but strangely addictive nonetheless. Another lyrics from the same track – ‘Nothing New’ – is “sing-along’s never get old”, which is both undoubtedly true and just what this EP is full to the brim of – classic pop-punk sing-along gold!
To release a record like this these days is sadly a risk, and though it will not be appreciated as much as it would have been perhaps ten years ago, Some of feel music is clouded with unnecessary synths and unwelcoming deafening vocals in this century and miss the days where fun wasn’t frowned upon.
THE SPLASH boast themselves as nothing new – and that is just what they are – but if classic pop-punk is your calling, grab yourself a copy of this EP and it will crown itself as a guilty pleasure!
STEPH KNIGHT