Two EPs being released on March 29th and showing the strength of the young pop-punk, emo and hardcore scenes in the UK, Rhondda Valleys' Fortune Teller and London's Neversaid bring plenty of melodic noise to the table on these brand new offerings.
Unashamedly pop-punk, South Wales' Fortune Teller draw from the vintage sounds of Blink 182, Sum 41 and Good Charlotte along with newer influences such as Knuckle Puck, The Story So Far and Neck Deep on their five track debut EP 'Premonitions' which is full of intricate, interweaving guitars (with choppy riffing) courtesy of Luke Jones and Aaron Parfitt, intelligent lyrics and hooky choruses. The pace doesn't really drop, driven along by the pacey rhythm section of Lee Vaughn (bass) and the stunning quick-time drumming of Josh Davies, but there's still plenty of room for the melodies to shine through on tracks such as 'What A Shame', 'Problematic' and the two great singles 'Drop The Act' and 'Jump Ship' with classy vocals being provided by Mason Meacham above the driving sonics of the music. Recorded by Todd Campbell of Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons and mixed by Tom Ianello in the USA (Driveways and Four Year Strong), 'Premonitions' - from the insistent, nagging riffs of opener 'Starting Again' through to the final fading chords of 'Jump Ship' - is a fine EP and shows how far the band have come since getting together at the end of 2022. At time of writing still to gig, playing live can only sharpen the moves and music of this most promising of new bands.
There's a touch more variety on London trio Neversaid's sophomore EP 'Bond Over Blood' as it freewheels between pop-punk, hard hitting emo and touches of hardcore on its four raging tracks. Newcomers Jordan Hibbert on guitar and Koda Boyce on bass ply their heavy pulsing riffage behind lead vocalist's Logan Samuel's raw, emotive vocals as the tuneage veers between the hooky choruses of 'Fall Short' and 'Ghost' through the lyrical challenges and driving music of 'No Father' and the impossibly feral 'Bitchfit'. Taking influences from My Chemical Romance, The Used and Trash Boat and having supported the likes of Hawthorne Heights and Dream State since forming in 2020, Neversaid have built on their debut 'Getting Better' EP with an exciting, uncompromising release and 'Bond Over Blood' should see them build on this early success with prominent shows and festivals planned later in 2024, gain further traction and pick-up new fans - well deserved for a confident and exemplary band.
'Premonitions' and 'Bond Over Blood' are both released on March 29th on all major digital sites. Fortune Teller and Neversaid can be contacted via Garry at San PR Promotions.