Not Quite Something to Write Home About

Heavily emo and hardcore influenced pop punk is not as popular today as it was, say, ten years ago – but there are still plenty of bands hoping to cash on in the trend. Canadian band Like Pacific is nothing particularly new or innovative, but they don’t have to be. Their new album, the self-titled Like Pacific, picks up where bands like the Movielife left off in the early 2000’s; music made by and for hardcore kids who want something with a bit more clean singing. But clean singing doesn’t mean that Like Pacific doesn’t have all the energy of a hardcore band, and the passion of singer Jordan Black comes out in every word.

The album’s opening track, “Sigh of Relief,” gives listeners a thorough glimpse into what to expect from the songs to follow. That is, catchy guitars, emotional shouting, and some distinctly pop punk drumming. Songs like “105 McCaul St” and “Suffering” are clearly influenced by the members’ heavier roots, and with a little more screaming this album could attain the perfect blend of hardcore and pop punk that their predecessors had invented. At only five songs, Like Pacific doesn’t have much room for things to go wrong, but not much room for things to go incredibly right either. Each track on this album is an solidly enjoyable pop punk song, but nothing on this record is something to write home about.

It may not be spring yet, and we all know that spring is the season for pop punk, but Like Pacific will be sure to leave a warm feeling inside you, especially if you’ve been hoping for that melodic pop punk revival. With bands like Balance and Composure still making waves, there is plenty of room for this style of melodic punk to get some attention, but Like Pacific will have to work a little harder on finding their own sound if they really want to make a name for themselves.