Stars Of The Search Party are a band that have materialised with a sound ready made and pre-packaged for the younger end of the all-consuming and all-popular emo/hardcore/pop-punk market. What they might lack in originality, they make up for with heartfelt enthusiasm, soaring melodies and dynamic production values.
The EP's lead track, "The Culprit", is the true highlight here and begins with a triumph of carefully picked guitar riffs and keys that combine to an almost harmonic effect, bringing to mind the twin guitar histrionics of classic metal as much as they do the band's more apparent latter day influences.
Vocally the band combine melody and aggression admirably, and the lyrics are solid without being anything necessarily ground breaking. The band certainly know how to structure a track and there are many twists and turns within the confines of the three tracks on this EP. Obvious reference points are Underoath and Enter Shikari, though the ghost of Funeral For A Friend also looms over them and, frankly, there's no escaping their influence on Stars, or indeed, the entire genre.
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Having seen the band live I can also stand witness to the incredibly tight musicianship within the band on stage as well as in the studio. The drummer in particular is breathtaking in his precision, and besides a little over-the-top posturing from the vocalist, he and the rest of the band are admittedly masters of conjuring up energy amongst an audience.
Like fine wine, age and maturity will improve SOTSP. This is a strong, if very poppy, EP in all and with a little experimentation and perhaps some more thought towards developing a sound that is truly their own, this band could well end up contenders.
Onwards and upwards.
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