Reading‘s Echoic have been gathering a following locally and nationally over the last year. With their self-released EP ‘Testify’ they’re ready to gain a new fanbase and take a step up on their own terms.

‘Testify’ fizzes with synth that give way to a heavy riff but the vocals are more croon than punk rock, vocally it’s fairly close to producer Jason Wilson’s other work with You Me at Six. Things feel reined in, however, and it feels like this track could have benefited from a bit more freedom.

‘My Mind’ is more chilled and laid-back, the guitars very much a college rock ilk. The hook in the chorus of “my mind is so far away…” will no doubt find an audience, and it’s easy to see it being a big track for them.

‘Keep You Warm’ is a quieter affair, that seems fitting and the stripped back instrumentation gives a good other side to them. The loud-quiet dynamic is well executed here.

Have Echoic stretched themselves with this? Maybe not as much as they could have, but the polish on this debut EP should help them find the audience they desire. The time for experimentation can wait. It’s decent pop rock and I’ve no doubt it will find them fans.

3/5

‘Testify’ EP by Echoic is out now.

Echoic links: Website|Facebook|Twitter

Words by Heather Robertson (@thecuriosity)