UK band NEXT YEAR appears to be a rather up and coming band. Formed back in the fall of 2017, the band already has one EP to their name, an active live history considering their relatively short history, and a second EP ready to be released. This second EP is called “Waterfalls”, and is set for a late summer release through US label Standby Records it would appear.
Initially “Waterfalls” was planned to be self-released at the end of May 2019, but in early May the band announced that the release was rescheduled due to a deal with Standby Records. A rather fresh deal it would appear, as the label haven’t yet announced this event from what I can see.
What people will have in store once the music is readily available is the music of a band that appears to be developing and searching a bit for direction. I understand that they started out as a cover band specializing in what is called pop punk today, and then gradually developed towards creating their own material.
Their past can easily be heard throughout, with riffs and sometimes rhythms that points back to punk rock, a more melodic mode of lead vocals but with occasional odd delivery of the kind pop punk bands in particular may feature. The songs are mainly tight and often energetic, with good drive and catchy melodies. Few of the songs leaves a massive impression however, so this is more a niche production than a mass market one in my opinion, at least as far as a potential is concerned.
The band mix it up a bit by adding in a few bits and pieces of both alternative rock and garage rock along the way, be it by plan or by accident. The impression I get is that they are trying out expanding their canvas ever so slightly in these cases, although it may well be that these are features common in pop punk as of 2019 as well: I’ll readily admit that this isn’t a genre I’m all that familiar with.
My main impression is that this forthcoming EP by UK band Next Year by and large will have it’s main appeal towards those who know, love and treasure the music described as pop punk, and perhaps the part of the fan base for the genre that appreciates bands that desire to stretch ever so slightly beyond the boundaries at that. Not yet a fully developed product, but a talented bunch in development where time will tell how far they will manage to go and how accomplished they’ll manage to become.
My rating: 63/100
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Track list:
1. Aliens & Pyramids
2. Ben Wilson
3. Back to You
4. Remember Me
5. Marquette
6. Dopamine
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Links:
https://www.nextyearuk.com/
https://standbyrecords.com/
