Review Summary: Wonderful EP from an underrated pop-punk act
The transformation of pop-punk into a more, for lack of a better word, “mature” art form in the last decade or so has brought us some quite stellar albums. Whether it’s Parker Cannon telling off an ex in blunt fashion such as on The Story So Far’s
Under Soil and Dirt or Soupy giving us his usual gut-wrenching lyrics on any Wonder Years record, there’s more to offer than Blink-182’s shameless dick jokes and Green Day’s allusions to getting stoned back in the days of
Dookie. Unfortunately, not every band is able to share the limelight in terms of popularity, and in some cases it’s a true shame - As Sirens Fall is one such case. Despite their knack for writing a great hook, they haven’t been signed to a label and don’t even crack 10,000 monthly listeners. And after hearing
L'appel Du Vide, Pt 1, that’s far from what they deserve.
A big chunk of this EP is simply fun, accessible pop-punk with well-done instrumentals and a vocalist that sounds like a cross between Gerard Way and Nicholas Matthews in all the best ways. The easiest way to describe
L'appel Du Vide, Pt 1 is that it’s a more refined take on what My Chemical Romance had going with their sadly-underappreciated
Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. Opener “We Go Down Together” is a wonderful example of what this band can do, with its infectiously saccharine hook and energetic feel all around. Vocalist Mikey Lord is at peak form, clearly taking cues from the aforementioned Way but not coming off like a total copycat. “The Wide Awake Club” is also in this camp, showing quite a bit of promise that I’d love to hear expanded upon with a full-length in the future. “Puppy Squad” is not quite as memorable as the rest, but it’s still a solid track worth checking out.
Despite being firmly rooted in pop-punk, As Sirens Fall are certainly not afraid to show their dynamics on this 5-track, 17-minute offering. “Holy Water” shows elements of gospel, and if not for some light expletives, I wouldn’t be at all shocked to hear a song like this on Air1. Thankfully, these guys are talented enough that they
actually make it work and it serves to prove how well they can adapt to stylistic shifts. “Wildflower” is the lightest track on the EP, showcasing how truly beautiful their music can get when they tone back the driving guitars in favor of a more atmospheric approach. Bar “Puppy Squad” and “The Wide Awake Club”,
L'appel Du Vide, Pt 1 pretty much just gets lighter as it goes on, proving that they’re able to do more than what’s been on display on their previous EPs,
The Hospital Party and
Where Lost Things Go. As Sirens Fall are a band that are extremely underappreciated, and this EP just proves it.
