Review Summary: Mixing hardcore and pop-punk, A Change of Pace succeeds in defining their original sound on their first album An Offer You Can't Refuse. Overall a great album mixing dark and poppy songs with great songwriting, it's an easily listenable CD. One album yo
What do you get when you mix hardcore and pop-punk influences into one band? A Change of Pace. On their first album An Offer You Can’t Refuse, ACOP delivers their very own brand of punk and they deliver it well. With relatively well-written lyrics considering the young age of the band when they wrote the album and a clear sense of the musical direction they’re taking, ACOP shows much promise on their first effort. Although not completely original in style, they definitely are more unique than your average pop-punk outfit.
The album starts off with a creepy intro of the sound of kids playing in a park and a riff on the vibes before a little guitar and then some great screaming of the words “So I made you lie”. Then the guitar comes in nice and rocking, starting the album off strong with one of the harder songs on the record. The singing is strong, and Torry shows a great range, reaching the higher notes with a lot of confidence and not too much nasal quality like so many other pop-punk bands. Following “Loose Lips Sink Ships” comes “Death Do Us Part”, one of my favorite songs on the album. With a stop-start guitar rhythm interspersed with drum-rolls in the verse, the band’s musical talent and originality is showcased. In the chorus, underneath the poppy guitar part is sung the lyric “I stole your heart, ripped it out, and smashed it on this floor”, one of the darkest lyrics on the album. This stark contrast works well for ACOP’s style, and makes for a very good, interesting track. Next is “Every Second”, a nice, happy pop-punk song. This is another great song, following somewhat of a pop-punk mold, but it’s very nice to listen to and you can’t help but being happy hearing it.
“Asleep at the Wheel” follows in contrast to “Every Second” as being one of the darkest ones on the album. However, it is a very rocking track, and if I do say so, Torry is an awesome screamer. The lyrics on this tune are also well written, the chorus lamenting “And would you save everyone if you saw them dying? / Watch as they slip through your hands”. Once again, he sings with confidence and hits the high notes without hesitation. “December” is another one of the awesome happy songs on this album, and elaborates on the style ACOP has formed for themselves. They have created their own sub-genre of pop-punk, and this track combined with “Asleep at the Wheel” showcases the musical direction they wish to take. “Know One Knows” is another dark track, with lots of screaming and heavy guitars. However, the chorus features some very nice harmonies, and serves as a mix between the dark and the pop-punk. In the bridge, the guitarist decides to rock out with a tight little solo that is very cleanly executed and blends nicely into the song. All in all, a satisfying song. “Home Is Where the Heart Is” stands out as one of the better pop-punk style songs on the album, although all of them are good. Here it is important to point out the fact that the ACOP boys are awesome at writing harmonies and catchy melodies, because this song will definitely stick in your head. The interlaced guitar parts in the intro riff also blend great together to make an awesome song.
“A Farewell to Friendship” is the only acoustic song on the album, and it is another great song. One of the sadder songs due to the subject and lyrics, it speaks of, like the title suggests, a friendship that is over. The chorus sings “I’m lost for words with one last breath / For me to take from you / Now gasp for air / There’s nothing left for me to take from you”. Although not lyrically the strongest song on the album, its still a strong track and works well as an acoustic song. Following this, ACOP doesn’t waste any time in rocking out again with “Chippie”, a song starting off with a great drum roll and a very fast guitar riff. This is a fast, fun, pop-punk song, and it does what it sets out to do – make you feel good. It’s an easily enjoyable track. “Goodbye for Now” is one of the slowest tracks on the CD and is a little hard to get into following the pure adrenaline of “Chippie”. It’s a decent track, though definitely not one of my favorites. It isn’t as well written as the rest of the album, and almost feels like filler. “Queen of Hearts” closes the album with pure pop-punk glory, directly the opposite of the opener “Loose Lips Sink Ships”. It’s a great, fun, fast song. Featuring great harmonies and overall good writing, it’s a good way to close the album.
An unlikely mix of hardcore and pop-punk, A Change of Pace tries their hand at creating their own unique style. All in all, they succeed and make a lasting impression. With great songwriting, great singing, and even great screaming, ACOP is a great band that shows a lot of promise on their first effort An Offer You Can’t Refuse. Mixing dark, hard songs with upbeat pop-punk, the variety and originality of the album makes it a solid release. Definitely recommended, this is one CD you don’t want to miss.
Recommended songs:
Loose Lips Sink Ships
Death Do Us Part
Asleep at the Wheel
December
Home Is Where the Heart Is
