Album Review: Head Down - How It All Breaks Down

Head Down are Dale, Brad and Krys from Ontario, Canada. This is their fourth full length release, and is a blend of pop-punk and heavy rock, with all the right elements to get you singing along. They have already had a fair amount of success, pulling off a self-booked 26-date tour across Canada, which is no mean feat considering the size of the country.

The album opens with 'Up Against The Wall', a track full of energy, with huge soaring vocal lines, fast double-time drumming and subtle harmonies. It has the classic pop-punk sound, but I feel it's a bit of a weak opener, as it really kicks off with 'Go Slowly', the next track. This catchy number, with metal-esque break downs and huge vocal harmonies in the chorus.

Although the sound is primarily with the pop-punk realms, there are tracks like 'Reclamation' that delve much more within the area of heavy rock, with big chuggy guitars and double-pedal drums, which works really well with the vocalists sound. 'Move Ahead' is another number with a lot of energy, with more double-time drumming and strong vocals.

The album finishes with 'Made This Right' which is a hugely upbeat poppy number, which wouldn't seem out of place with bands like All Time Low, with a big verse, and lots of double-peddle which at times sounds a bit over the top. This is one of my favourites off the EP, and has the customary big break down shouts that the crowd can get involved in.

Pop-punk is a genre with rules you have to stick to pretty strongly, but like many these boys have drawn from hardcore and metal. The only criticism of this album I would have is that it does start to sound very similar after a while. But, saying that, they have a good sound, and the songwriting and solid playing is better than a lot of Pop-Punk that I've heard over the years, which is crucial in my mind to getting a tight sound.

3.5/5

'How It All Breaks Down' by Head Down is available now.

Head Down on MySpace

Mark Allen