EP REVIEW: More To Me Than Misery – Homebound

Ahead of their upcoming UK tour, new comers HOMEBOUND release their second EP, More To Me Than Misery. Straight off the back of last years The Mould You Build Yourself Around, the band promise a distinct change in their direction, taking on bigger themes and more personal reflections.

Change Of Heart blast straight in with a catchy hook, aggressive drums and honest lyrics. It’s a true old school approach to pop punk, taking influence from the glory days of the genre while bringing in a fresh lease of life. Often there’s a fatigue with pop punk, that all bands want to create are generic, broad tunes that don’t hit any emotional parts. Change Of Heart is a ball of energy to wake you up, authentic delivery and enough personal touches to the music to peak fans of YOU ME AT SIX and JIMMY EAT WORLD, while appealing on their own merits as well.

A slightly more sobering feeling in the tonal direction of Coming Clean. Guitars are just as chunky, with a more melancholy, reflective break down, all linked together through a powerful and diverse vocal range. It’s a song fuelled by rage, but played with introspective and a deeper emotional core. If you relate to the lyrical content on this record, you’ll very much enjoy the energy of this song.

Once more, a memorable riff introduces Truth Be Told, and while the tone might be a little too pop punk by numbers, with a drum pattern we’ve all heard before and a couple of cliché guitar stylings. However, it’s still full of honesty and it’s plenty of fun to listen to if you’re in the mood to consume a very strong example of the genre.

The pensive Incredible is a musical journey into the tormented issues of love and hopeless romantic circles. The music and the lyrics really do go hand in hand here, and introduces some really interesting dissonant character to the guitar work.

Another track full of heartache and self-reflection, Yours Truly is potentially the best track on the EP; a full on chant along anthem, it’s a very catchy track, boasting singing guitars with a powerful drum performance. If you’re a fan of BRING ME THE HORIZON’s later material, you’ll for sure be into the emotional heart of this one. It’s a memorable, simple tune that uses the formula of the genre to the best of it’s potential.

Before you know it, the run through is over, and you’ll be aware just how much more you want to hear of HOMEBOUND. The only thing for it is to give More To Me Than Misery another spin! Overall, it’s clear the band have pushed themselves to create a very personal, honest EP, and it’s all the better for it. More To Me Than Misery is proof that there’s still life in the pop punk scene, and that this is just the start for HOMEBOUND.

Rating: 7/10

More To Me Than Misery is out August 17th via Rude Records.

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