Light You Up - All We've Ever Known
Even before they released their debut material, pop-punk 5 piece Light You Up already had some understanding of the music business with several of the guys having a background in the touring industry. With this first-hand knowledge of how much hard work and dedication is needed to succeed and how quick it could all be taken away, the lads were prepared to give this band everything they had. With influences ranging from Blink 182 and Weezer to The Beatles and Oasis, the Birmingham band is now ready to set their debut album All We've Ever Known upon the world.
Breathe opens the album and it instantly sets the tone for the remainder of the release. Kicking off with guitars pulsating and drums crashing, shining a light on the poppier side of the album, there is a very anthemic feel to track. Each of these elements continues throughout the album making it a very upbeat and engaging listen, building on the pop punk elements as it grows. All We've Ever Known is one of the catchiest tunes the album has on offer. Not only is the track upbeat with kicking melodies and choruses but its lyrics are some you could hear yourself screaming out loud at a live performance. This is a track that stays with you, bouncing back in your brain at intervals throughout the day.
Always Wanting More featuring Alan Day (Four Year Strong) is the first single the band released from the album and begins to delve a little more into the punk elements of the record with some edgy guitar playing and some harder notes present while remaining to have its sing-a-long moments. Taking things further down the punk route the album continues on with Monsters which as a much heavier drum from the start and Foxfire featuring Matty Arsenault (A Loss For Words).
After so many upbeat and hard hitting tracks it's a breath of fresh air to have the acoustic led Waiting For A Train. This is one of the albums finest tunes and really shows the bands strengths at the highest levels from vocals to lyrics, instrumentation to production; it is truly breath taking!
Each of these tracks has pop punk at its core but it is the raspy, edgy vocals of lead vocalist Tom Napier which stands out, particularly on tracks such as Waiting For A Train and Monsters where the real breadth of Tom's vocal capabilities shine through. Add to this some moments where all the band member vocals chime in together and this strengthens the tracks a great deal more.
Light You Up are on the verge of taking the UK pop-punk scene by storm and with their upbeat sing-along tracks begging to be played live we can expect to see them a great deal more in the year ahead.