TEXAS’ OFFENDED BY EVERYTHING GO BACK TO BASICS WITH NO FRILLS EMO POP PUNK
EP REVIEW | OFFENDED BY EVERYTHING – WE’RE SAFE FOR NOW by Craig Harston
Every now and then, a new emo band comes along and reminds you what the genre is really all about. While eyeliner, black clothes and stripy socks is a great look for the scene, it’s nice to know that there’s still some bands out there that forgo the theatrics for some stripped-back, no frills emotionally charged rock songs. Dallas, Texas emo pop punk band Offended By Everything certainly fit into the latter category.
Returning after almost two years of touring with their fourth EP, and their first in six years (following 2017’s ‘Never Too Late To Start Again’ as well as ‘Evergreen’ and ‘Everything That’s Led Me Here’ from 2019), the four-piece have assembled five songs on ‘We’re Safe For Now’ which encompasses what they’re all about – raw, heartfelt lyrics and melodic harmonies.
Kicking off with the floaty ‘Potential’, it’s a song ramps up quickly, getting quite fast and heavy on the bridge – it’s very reminiscent of pop punk contemporaries Knuckle Puck. The first and only single, the very pop punk ‘Better Now’ has some great riffs and plenty of lovelorn lyrics and is a great song for hazy summer nights, with some huge guitars and ‘woah’s’ closing out the song. Joining it as a future summer pop punk banger is EP closer ‘Nothing To See Here, Move Along’ which finds the band going full pelt, all huge pop punk riffs and heartwrenching vocals
Elsewhere, Offended By Everything show there are plenty of strings to their bow, first with the technical, metalcore-tinged ‘The Optimist’, which is very A Day To Remember, all chugging guitars and gruff vocals on the choruse sitting comfortably alongside the more melodic verses. The thoughtful and melancholic ‘Keep It All Inside’ brings to mind early 2000s ‘heart on sleeve’ emo, along the lines of The Get Up Kids and The Starting Line.
Ultimately, it’s a great return for the Texans, showing that they have an eclectic range and ‘We’re Safe For Now’ and is an absolute must for those summer nights in the car!
We’re Safe For Now releases on 11th April and you can pre-save it HERE.
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