People of colour in pop punk are in pretty short supply but that seems all set to change with the multiracial Action/Adventure. Having released a tantalising trail of EP’s global recognition finally beckons thanks to their scoring a major deal with Pure Noise Records. They’re on a mission to create #PopPunkInColor it’s a remit they’ve more than fulfilled with their 4th EP, the technicolour Pulling Focus.
As mission statements go “Barricades” is the perfect calling card and succinctly encapsulates the bands modus operandi; short and sweet it packs more into 60 blistering seconds than most bands put on an entire album. It’s an effervescent, bouncy slab of pop punk that tempers its buoyancy with a serious message. A brave choice as lead single it details some of the abuse each band member has been subjected to whilst performing across the States. It’s a juxtaposition that echoes throughout this EP; upbeat songs that are tempered by a serious message and it’s a tension of opposites that works rather well.
There’s a strong groove present in everything Action/Adventure do which renders their songs strangely danceable and should have all but somnambulists and narcoleptics up and moshing. Pop punk is the bands main focus but they’re certainly not going to paint themselves into a corner and their sound incorporates elements of emo and hardcore. However, they never lose sight of important stuff like close vocal harmonies and song structure while wrapping them up in delicious melodies.
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Often the bands songs are complexity cloaked in simplicity and a song like “Semi-Prologue” is a prime example. The musical equivalent of a Rubik’s Cube that, dictated by neat drum patterns, guides the listener through a musical maze. It takes real skill to make such intricacy ‘poppy’ yet it’s something the band do with apparent ease. While certainly not generic Action/Adventure contain all the essential pop punk ingredients from huge, anthemic sing-along choruses and gang vocals to those knockout hooks and this EP stops at all points in between.
Seven tracks in twenty minutes should tell you Action/Adventure aren’t hanging around and, as pop punk undertakes a glorious resurgence, Pulling Focus could just be the release that propels them towards uncharted heights.
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Pulling Focus is released via Pure Noise Records on 30th April 2021
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