Smile And Burn - Flight Attempt Of The Kiwi
Serving up a succulent selection of pop-punk tunes, Berlin-based Smile And Burn are set to give their musical peers a run for their money with their delicious debut effort 'Flight Attempt Of The Kiwi'.
The German quintet, who are signed to Fond Of Life Records, hurl themselves into the upbeat record with 'Dear Shepherd'. The melodic tune is exciting and offers listeners raw punk-style vocals, gnarly group chants and fast-paced guitars.
Whilst 'We're Still Not Getting Anywhere' and 'I'll Burn The Rabbit Hole' both tread similar ground to the album opener, Smile And Burn successfully make each song sound fresh and original.
Proving that they are not afraid to experiment with their music, tracks like 'Second To None' and 'Self-Defeating 101' see the five-piece tinker with the heavier elements of pop-punk – quite reminiscent of Statesiders Four Year Strong.
Other highlights of the 11-track release include the effervescent 'Tootles Has Returned To London', lyrically strong 'Point Blank' and punk-laden '50 Frags Win The Match'.
Ticking all the boxes, 'Flight Attempt Of The Kiwi' is a refreshing record that is both sprightly and superbly structured – fans of The Wonder Years and This Time Next Year will love this, as will followers of older acts like Strike Anywhere and Good Riddance.
Smile And Burn are a brilliant band that stand out significantly from the generic groups that are swarming today's pop-punk scene. With a UK tour planned for April, these guys are definitely ones to keep an eye on in the next few months.