ALBUM REVIEW: Awful Truth – Woes
Coming off the back of an oversaturation that was spurred by a select few bands finding legitimate success, the pop punk genre is in a bit of a lull in popularity. This isn’t a bad thing, given that it provides some actual breathing room for any fresh talent coming into the scene, but it does mean that something like a new NECK DEEP will probably be needed to bring the hype train back to the station. As they recognise an opportunity to bring in some fresh elements to the genre, WOES also look to build off their earlier success with their debut full length Awful Truth, trying to make both an impact and inject some creativity into a sometimes void genre.
Boy immediately shows the Scottish group to be creatively driven. The vocal loop and FLEETWOOD MAC synths make for a unique opening to the album and sets the summery vibe up perfectly. Fake Friends continues the vibe, and proves WOES to have become pretty good at penning pop choruses that dig their way into your memory. The experimentation hits an early wall though, as WOES allow for creative freedom to end the song with an ambient fade out, something that undoubtedly kills the early album momentum.
This is a theme for the album as it continues. Fancy suffers the same fizzling end, yet Money Shoe walks the line between pop and punk really well, boasting massive guitars that really help highlight the chorus. Even if there isn’t a massive amount of triumphant success, the fact that Awful Truth has the confidence to test drive so many new influences is enough to impress where the songs don’t quite manage. Whilst their ‘bad boys of pop punk’ moniker might be the furthest thing from their actual sound, WOES have at least created a cohesive album in Awful Truth.
It’s this cohesion that helps make the album worth checking out. There isn’t anything that feels out of place, and even though the album definitely feels more pop-rock that pop punk, Awful Truth is filled with consistent vibes that is enhanced by how well each song segues into the next. Of course, the fact that some of these songs fail to hit the mark is hard to look past, but for every Fake Friends there is Mess, with its honest lyrics and fantastic chorus melody. Ultimately, WOES feel like they want to establish themselves as purveyors of a hybrid sound, and there are more than a few similarities to bands like ISSUES and THE PLOT IN YOU that will help, hopefully, make WOES a wealth of new fans.
Awful Truth isn’t without its issues, but there is enough here to shout about to give WOES a pretty good head start in their musical career. For a debut, Awful Truth is a sometimes experimental take on a genre that was fast approaching becoming immeasurably stale. The deep pop influence is woven incredibly well into the eclectic sound, and when the Scots get it right, this album truly soars. With tighter songwriting, WOES will be able to truly highlight their clear musical creativity and really highlight themselves as a better alternative for the jaded fan.
Rating: 7/10
Awful Truth is out now via UNFD.
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