WSTR - SKRWD
Think back to the first time you heard Sum 41’s All Killer No Filler and Blink 182 rocking out on Enema of the State and then take a listen to the home grown talent of WSTR. This five-piece band grew-up in Liverpool listening to mainstream pop punk like Blink 182, New Found Glory and Sum 41 and for their recent EP SKRWD, they have incorporated the sound they adored growing up into their own music.
The catchy opening track South Drive kicks things off with a blend of heavy guitars and catchy riffs from Kieran Alder and Danny Swift and powerful drumming from Kieran McVeigh. The remaining five tracks follow suit with this infectious style of music. Graveyard Shift has a bounce in its step (and a brilliant video!), Brainsick has a stronger punch, Aint Great gets a listener wanting to sing along while Devils N Demons starts off with a tougher shell, but once you crack it open, you have yet more pop punk gooeyness.
Fair Weathered is the track that demonstrates the talent these guys have for writing honest lyrics. It tells a touching tale about friendships as they go through the good and bad times. It is a tell it as it is song - “my friends are dicks, but I wouldn't have it any other way” - honest and straight to the point.
Vocals from Sammy Clifford are quite edgy to begin with but as they continue and burst into chorus, they setting well into the style of music created and beg to be joined along with.
Although there is not much differentiation between the rhythm and style of the tracks and nothing that particularly stands out as exceptional or breath-taking in terms of lyrics or music, you can certainly hear there is talent in this band and they will no doubt find success with this Pop Punk EP SKRWD. Hopefully the future holds an album in the works to give a much more in depth listen as to what WSTR has to offer the Pop Punk world.