Ocean Sunset View – The ‘On Your Marks’ EP.
Ocean Sunset View – Bristol, England, United Kingdom.
‘You can take the kid of out of the Pop-Punk but you can’t take the Pop-Punk out of the kid‘ – A prospective and wannabe Maxim that I just created upon reading-up on Bristol Pop-Punk three-piece Ocean Sunset View. I like to think such as term will catch on but if it doesn’t it’s certainly relevant to the Bristol Pop-Punk scene and its growing plethora of bands.
On Your Marks approaches the starting line having clearly done its homework. The three-piece in their own words have attempted to bridge harder Punk-Rock and its melodic 90’s equivalent with Pop-Punk both classic and contemporary in a sound that is more at home with its current locale rather than its North American roots.
‘Jokes On You’ is up-beat, up-tempo and just over a minute in classic and snotty Punk Defiance. Ocean Sunset View are still a Pop-Punk band but they know where it all came from.
‘Another Song About You’ has a classically toned Pop-Punk lead guitar in the verses over light and playful drums in another Pop-Punk love song skilfully away from cliche. Just about. The low-ridden chord progressions in the pre-chorus still elude to a heavier band with the track on whole balanced and one of the EPs best.
The intro of the eerily Yellowcard-esque ‘California’ sets you up for the oncoming pop-song after the raspier rooted sound of the previous. The track moves away just enough from its eerie reminiscence into being an enjoyable mid-release track, parading as the obligatory “slow-one” of this Pop-Punk release.
‘Let It Out’ teases you with EasyCore-esque leads before falling back into mid-to-fast tempo Pop-Punk with the band’s most harmonious and melody-ridden track yet. If you were to epitomise and or generalise the UK Pop-Punk sound, ‘Let It Out’ would definitely be up there, it’s not the best on the release but still a excellent choice as a single, bananas and all.
Attempting to fit such in-band diversity into a six-track debut EP is precarious at best but Ocean Sunset View have managed it. In the penultimate track you get a loving cross of vintage Alkaline Trio, Matt Skiba and The Sekrets and UK Pop-Punk compressed into just over four and half minutes where the band try their hand at another slower Pop-Punk ballad.
Now, ideally you’d expect this EP to end on a similar note to its grand entrance and you’ be right for the most part. From the playful 90’s bass starter onward to the vocals forsaking the harmonies and following a rawer approach, this is 90’s Pop-Punk at its best via a charge from its Skate Punk cousin. ‘Echoes’ is a very good example of the more classically orientated of the UK scene with bands such as Havelocke and The Take Down coming to mind – Click Here and then Here.
The 2:00 minute marks sees a rise in an anthemic chord progression following on into a solo you wouldn’t have expected, itself leading to the final minute and half giving fully to melodic Skate Punk.
Done.
Find them:
- Social Media/Updates: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Official Website.
- Music: Spotify, iTunes/Apple Music, Google Play.
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