Hopeless Records
Out now
Words by Angela Croudace
Stand Atlantic‘s newest album, WAS HERE, highlights the Aussie pop punkers’ daring approach and skilful fusion of different musical styles. While their signature pop-punk edge remains a central thread, this album sees them boldly navigating a diverse sonic landscape, hopping between genres with each track. WAS HERE offers a dynamic mix of genres that intrigues listeners, from the expected pop-punk anthems to surprising forays into alternative, electronic, and indie rock. The album grapples with achieving a cohesive sound, showcasing Stand Atlantic’s penchant for experimentation. However, the standout tracks on WAS HERE offset the album’s overall disjointed feel.
The opening track, WAKE UP, SIT DOWN, SHUT UP, plunges listeners headfirst into an electronic-infused pop-punk hybrid, driven by Bonnie‘s ethereal and melodically captivating vocals. It’s not until about a minute in that the familiar crunch of Stand Atlantic’s signature guitars emerges, accompanied by lyrics that explore themes of personal struggle, emotional pain, and introspection. The track features electric drums beneath distorted vocal breaks, creating a rich, textured sound. This song resembles Bring Me the Horizon’s recent work, particularly the electronic elements that echo their newer releases.
Venturing into pop territory, GIRL$ captures a sense of youthful nostalgia, especially for millennials who once embraced a blend of upbeat emo pop. This uplifting and vibrant track features pop rock stars PVRIS and Bruses and delivers a refreshing, catchy dance tune with intriguing distorted vocals and a solid electronic presence while subtly nodding to pop punk with some robust drum and guitar elements. With its powerhouse female collaboration, GIRL$ is a significant and fitting addition to the album.
LOVE U ANYWAY takes a new sonic turn, channelling a quintessential 80s club love song. While it had me dancing along, LOVE U ANYWAY feels wildly different from what I’d expect from Stand Atlantic. The lyrics are more uplifting than the rest of the album, and there’s a noticeable similarity to Hellogoodbye‘s Here (In Your Arms). The track’s danceable beat showcases Bonnie’s vocal range and skills.
ROCKSTAR introduces an island pop-reggae sound, a surprising departure for Stand Atlantic. While it’s not a bad track, it adds to the album’s genre-hopping, feeling somewhat out of place, as if it was included just to explore a reggae influence.
Tracks like 17, SEX ON THE BEACH, and KILL(H)ER blend raw emo lyrics with hyperpop and pop-punk elements, creating a distinctive sound. However, a more consistent approach to experimentation made the album feel more cohesive. On a different note, some tracks on WAS HERE feel more appealing to a Gen-Z audience. This is clear from the upbeat, danceable tunes and lyrics that capture the teenage angst of today’s youth – elements that would have felt more fitting if the band had released them years ago.
The standout track on WAS HERE is CRIMINAL featuring Polaris. Despite initial disappointment at Polaris’s influence not kicking in until the two-and-a-half-minute mark, the rest of the song more than compensates. CRIMINAL begins with a hyperpop sound before transitioning to heavier metal undertones, thanks to Polaris’s contribution. For me, CRIMINAL is remarkably close to a perfect song as a metalcore fan and possibly a signal that Stand Atlantic could go in a heavier direction and produce absolute bangers.
Overall, WAS HERE offers a captivating blend of sound experimentation, with certain tracks standing out amid the album’s varied genre exploration. It showcases a dynamic mix of styles, highlighting the band’s potential for future innovation. This album underscores the exciting possibilities when Stand Atlantic combines their signature sound with new influences. I’m eager to see how the band will evolve – whether they will refine a singular sound in future albums or continue to explore a diverse range of genres.
