Hailing from California, Seasons Change are the latest pop punk band making real waves in the scene. Since signing with No Sleep Records and recording this debut full length with well-known producer Sam Pura, the band have went from strength to strength, touring the US and making a real name for themselves. There is enough originality here to distance them from genre stalwarts like The Story So Far, but the same hard hitting fast paced riffs are also here in abundance.’Please Don’t Leave’ starts as it means to go on, first track ‘Clueless’ throws you in at the deep end of fast paced pop punk riffs and the first of many catchy choruses. On some pop punk records, it can be hard to distinguish where one song ends and the next starts, as the tempo can be very constant throughout. This is not the case here, second track ‘Hope This Stains’ starts off slower than the opener, before slowly picking up the pace into a huge shout-along chorus that will be stuck in your head for days.
It becomes clear that the lyrical content throughout is very personal to vocalist Anthony Robles. It doesn’t get more personal than standout track ‘Valentine’ about his friend that sadly passed away in 2013. Lyrically it almost comes across as self depreciating at points with lines such as “So what if I’m selfish like a child?/I want you back.” Despite the extremely personal subject at hand, it is easy to relate with the feelings portrayed in this song, which helps to make it one of the strongest on the record.
’Please Don’t Leave’ is a solid pop punk record. Providing many massive hooks and huge sing along sections that will make this one of the pop punk soundtracks to the summer. It is a very strong debut album from a band set for a huge year. Seasons Change should be very proud of this. What a fantastic way to announce their arrival to the scene.
4/5
’Please Don’t Leave’ by Seasons Change is out now on No Sleep Records.
Seasons Change links: Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp
Words by Andy McGonigle (@andyjmcg87)
