Could it be a coincidence or are Victory going down a slightly less metal/aggressive phase and releasing awesome, melodic releases? 1997, The Scenic and now Thieves & Villains may well suggest so. Now I can’t proclaim T&V to be the next big thing, nor are they doing anything new and original, but they write very, very catchy songs without any preening or posteuring – they rock out, they make you singalong and everyone’s a winner. And let’s face it, ‘Movement’ has a clutch of songs to bring a smile to even the saddest person’s face.
There’s an honesty and charm that puts T&V ahead of their many pop-punk contemporaries. Whereas Mayday Parade and All Time Low have that feel-good presence in a chirpy, silly way (and in the case of MP they have that style over substance, fashionista thing going on too), ‘Movement’ showcases a band that focus more on the substance. The likes of ‘Let Go’, for instance, are just good old fashioned catchy songs without the need for any hidden extras. They rock, they conquer – it’s as simple as that.
There are plenty of good songs here. ‘Shimmer’ and ‘Everyone Believes’ are two to check out, especially if you like bands with the lyrical wit of Third Eye Blind as there’s more than a passing resemblance to Stephan Jenkins in Sergio Otaegui’s vocals. And as I’m a big 3EB fan, that’s no bad thing at all. ‘Movement’ is a good listen – it doesn’t try to be anything it’s not and doesn’t push too hard to break new boundaries. It’s a good, catchy record that will hopefully attract a lot of listeners.