A couple of years ago the closest thing the UK had to a pop-punk band was Kids in Glass Houses; before that it was Busted. There’s no surprise, then, in saying that the genre was, and still is, fundamentally American. It was not until the success of North-Wales band Neck Deep that loud chord-changing guitars under pop-influenced melodies were grasped this side of the pond.
The latest British pop-punk band to start making some noise is Homebound. With The Story So Far-esque artwork, catchy choruses and captivating hooks, their new EP Permanence deserves to push them into the forefront of the UK genre. Like the artwork, the first track ‘Blossom’ seems heavily influenced by The Story So Far, with fast-paced drums and at first light guitars, soon pierced by fiery vocals. The track is sound; it showcases a generic pop-punk sound with a chorus that will get a fan nodding along in their bedroom. It’s nothing groundbreaking, however, as the angst that it wants to express is done so in many clichés and its lyrics aren’t as raw as they could be.
The second track, ‘Worthwhile’, is what really begins to portray the skill of this five-piece from Surrey. It is as energetic as the previous track but lyrically it is far more authentic. Frontman Charlie Boughton has spoken of the ‘British angst behind tracks that you don’t get with US based stuff’, and this is evident in lyrics such as “I’ve come to stick with those who care and understand the sentiments I share”. The guitars in ‘Bittersweet’ sound tantamount to the biggest bands in their scene – an impressive achievement for a band that only signed to a label in May.
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‘Grounded’ and ‘Cave In’ maintain the band’s punchy and lively sound, a sound that in a year or so may be familiar to a far greater fanbase. With Trash Boat, Roam, Waster, Six Time Champion and Best Years, Homebound have proved that upcoming British pop-punk bands are full of potential. Permanence is a strong EP that communicates the competence and excitement of Homebound, a promising release.
Words by Ewan Marshall