Stay Free

Black To Grey EP

Written by: PP on 22/10/2012 22:57:14

So if easygoing sing alongs and a relaxed tempo are how you like your melodic punk rock served, I'd like to turn your attention to the brand new London, UK-based outfit Stay Free and their four-track debut EP "Black To Grey". It's a record that offers just that with an additional Midwestern punk vibe, as well as a ton of references to a bunch of much bigger bands but comes through with a lovable, charming identity of its own , one that has a British mood that recalls the origins of the genre in the country applied through a modern filter.

Essentially, Stay Free sound like the bastard sons of a multiway love affair between Latterman, Hot Water Music, Iron Chic, and most of all, Rancid. That's because their vocalist sounds impeccably like Tim Armstrong during his later days ("Let The Dominoes Fall..."), delivering a distinctly smoke-flavored expression that's full of warmth and laid-back vibes all around. The simple instrumentals are obviously nothing like Rancid, but here's where the other bands come into play, and the occasional emotional gang vocals are like straight out of the Latterman textbook. But it never feels like the band are just copying the sound of these bands, fortunately, rather than like the result's merely a product of having listened to them while growing up. Moreover, it's only their debut EP so you can't expect them to have formed a proper identity just yet. But even so, "Black To Grey" EP contains four enjoyable, laid back punk rock songs that suggests Stay Free are a band we should be keeping a close eye on in the future.

7

Download: War
For the fans of: Rancid, Latterman, Hot Water Music, Iron Chic
Listen: Facebook

Release date 08.05.2012
Self-Released

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