Today marks the release of the debut EP from Home Advantage. The stock in these London Pop Punks has been steadily rising thanks to a series of high profile support slots and the signing to Disconnect Disconnect records. Home Advantage released a three track demo last year but since then they have grown as a band, found their identity and worked with it. The result is ‘Cadet’ a six track EP that was seemingly made for Summer.
Kicking things off with ‘Short Termism’ you’re met with one of the best choruses on the record but things really get going with ‘Markers From Home’ a song which shows the more melodic and catchier side of Home Advantage. The opening riff is great and it leads into a huge chorus, it’s the best song on the record, you can’t help but bounce along to it.
‘Ropeswing’ shows off the more serious side to Home Advantage and in all fairness they do it bloody well, the fast drum beat is still present but the vibe is hugely different all culminating into the outro which leaves frontman Ross Shroff shouting “if you don’t fucking like it, you better fucking leave” all in all providing one of the truly brilliant moments on ‘Cadet’
The entire EP seems to be building towards ‘Barriers’ a rerecording of the stand out track from the three track demo Home Advantage released last year. This time round they’ve beefed it up and given it a kick up the arse. It’s not very often you’ll see a pop punk band of this ilk broach subjects such as the ones brought up in ‘Barriers’ but Home Advantage do it well and it doesn’t seem pretentious at any point. The song ends with a fucking crescendo of noise and it’s brilliant, genuinely gives me chills every time I hear it.
Overall ‘Cadet’ is a seriously strong EP, Home Advantage offer a different type of pop punk to the one that’s over saturating the scene at the moment. Home Advantage are more reminiscent of the likes of Midtown and Saves The Day and in all honesty it’s a pretty great thing. Home Advantage are refreshing to listen to and with a lot of work and a bit of luck they will be the next big thing out of the UK pop punk scene.
CHRIS MARSHMAN
‘Cadet’ by Home Advantage is out today through Disconnect Disconnect Records.