Don't Let These Guys Be A Secret
Surf punk from a band originating from Bristol? Well stranger things have happened and now just when you think you’ve seen and heard it all along come three piece The Following Announcement to adjust the parameter just that little bit further. In truth the surf punk tag bandied about courtesy of their press release may be a tad stretched. In all honesty these are three guys who are having fun playing some punk rock with a catchy pop sheen, but regardless of what tag they have acquired, at the very least, The Following Announcement prove that not all things labelled punk these days have to come with a U.S export stamp across them, after all us Brits did have some input in the genre.
Gently breaking you into their world, the band’s latest album, ‘In Secret Places’ opens with a rush of Chinese whisper-like whooshes that generate a grand atmospheric introduction to ‘If The Ink Runs Dry’ and the track quickly grabs its guitars and delves straight for the infectious riffs. Littered with references to everyday life such as thinking things over with a coffee and a copy of FHM, ‘If The Ink Runs Dry’ expertly ushers you into The Following Announcement’s lives, tenderly nudging your affections with a spirited melody and effortless infectiousness, to instantly make you feel at home. But instead of leaving you to get complacent, The Following Announcement quickly stir things up with ‘Roll Up’; raising the pop infused, infectious levels even further with an added sugar rush dose, as guitars dance around addictive lyrics. The whole thing culminating in a chant out loud chorus complete with hand claps to ensure no one leaves without at least a bout of head nodding. Like wise, ‘Keeper’ threatens to explode with an irresistible two pronged attack of addictive melodies and guitars that chug and thrash relentlessly, until once again the pop punk chorus waltzes in to round things off. And indeed The Following Announcement happily and expertly stick to this formula, stirring things up slightly here and there but always adding that surge of catchiness to leave a grin on your face and a buzzing feeling throughout.
Surf punk or not, The Following Announcement offer a slice of sugar coated addictiveness that won’t rot your teeth, but could lead your feet into a relentless outburst of toe tapping as their pop laced punk unapologetically goes for the kill. Sure, it may not be ground breaking, after all this is a genre that is pretty well supplied, but The Following Announcement is nonetheless a promising British band that deserves to be given a chance. Fun filled with the skills to match, The Following Announcement shouldn’t be kept a secret.