Boston Manor – Driftwood EP

Since their formation just a year ago, Boston Manor have broken out of sunny Blackpool and taken their broad punk, emo and pop punk sound across the country and across the seas. The Driftwood EP continues their success, showing just how far the band has matured over a year.

Salt Water immediately shows Driftwood is a force to be reckoned with demonstrating powerful and gritty vocals that can switch to blissful and lulling in the blink of an eye, which is exactly how quick the track is as it’s just over a minute long. Then the EP plunges into Peach State with a fist pumping, chest beating anthem akin to the works of Brand New mixed with New Found Glory making for an anthemic feel with nostalgic punk riffs, scathing lyrics and booming drums that leave you breathless.

Title-track Driftwood is arguably the strongest track on the record, as it manages to straddle genres from emo, pop punk and traditional punk without falling short of the mark at any point. The chugging bass, harsh vocals and guitars would not be out of place on a hardcore punk album; the tempo and sunny hooks would make influences Blink 182 proud and the tone and emotion wrought through every lyric hails the emo revival.

There are many bands that dip themselves into different genres, but what makes Boston Manor so different? Songs like Wolf and “See You In Three Years” will show you why as musically there is not much that does make them stand out amongst similar bands, it is their thoroughly personal and cathartic lyrics that add heart and soul to the body of the songs. They let you in to their own personal experiences and connect on a deeper level than purely enjoying their sound, and that is something special.

Square One takes the EP full circle with a very similar pace, introduction and all round sound as opening track Salt Water just extended and with extra oomph to really provide the best possible ending to a strong release with guitars and drums crashing in unison over commanding vocals, each grasping for attention though instead of sounding chaotic and confusing, this struggle works and reflects the overall feeling of struggle and turmoil expressed throughout the lyrics of this release.

If this is the improvement that Boston Manor can make in just a year I am incredibly excited to see what heights the Blackpool boys can reach, especially with a solid release like Driftwood under their belts which is sure to grant them some incredibly positive attention from existing fans and new fans alike.