This might be the bands first musical output together, but what they lack in previous releases, they certainly make up for in war stories from the various other bands they have grown from. The music is in your face, no frills medium paced skate punk which is performed to a decent standard without ever particularly making you notice any startlingly originality. But while it won’t win any points in that department, it certainly doesn’t lose any either as it does exactly what it says on the tin in producing a competent, reliable EP which is a more than adequate advert for the band.
Starting with the energetic ‘Indecision’, the feel of the band is quickly established with the roaring guitars working well over some simple yet effective drum patterns, and from here on in, this pretty much what to expect from the quartet. They stick to tracks which are as a whole very well made, if a little lacking in ideas at times, which is frustrating as you can sense the band are being held back by something and yet they never seem to lose these shackles. A slightly darker tone dominates ‘Pushed Away’ with the song never really getting out of 3rd gear while feeling ever so slightly rushed and disjointed during the run in, while ‘Clutch’ is the most upbeat and promising of the quartet as shades of NUFAN echo through the sublime bassline and flow of the track. ‘Footprints’ ends it in high class fashion with the harmonies and vocals this time standing out.
I Stand Alone are a band which show a lot of promise and towards the end of the EP, you really start to get a feel of the talent on display while the experience they hold could prove invaluable. It is nothing startlingly new but it does what it wants to well and the tracks are guaranteed to go down a storm at a live gig, but for the moment a certain something is just lacking on CD.
Jay
www.istandalone.co.uk