Every once in a blue moon a local band appears that is really good. A band that you want to keep to yourself but at the same time you want the world to know and enjoy this band as much as you do. But also knowing no one will enjoy them as much as you do. I have a few local bands that I feel that way about. Some you should know if you read anything I write or follow me on social media. Actually if you follow me on social media, you know how big a fan I am of Heroes like Villains. For the past few months I have been talking up this band and for good reason, THEY ARE THAT GOOD.
The first thing that stands out is the production quality. The guys in Heroes like Villains went to Capital House studios to have Nick Ingram work on their debut release. If that name doesn’t sound familiar to you, it should. Chances are he has worked on something you like. Be it Before Their Eyes, City Lights, Hotel Books, Dayseeker or Hawthorne Heights. Oh and he worked on the last album I reviewed, “The Wilderness” by Settle Your Scores. The reason this stands out to me is when a band generally puts out a first release the quality isn’t that good. These guys went with someone that would bring out the best in them and make sure it sounded good. That in sense goes along with the band’s mindset, they have a goal to bring pop-punk to the masses. They want to bring the pop-punk scene in Columbus to the forefront. With this release they are well on the way to doing just that along with a few other bands like No Dice, Undergrads and We Are The Movies.
Heroes like Villains is an energetic 5 piece pop-punk band from Columbus. They recently released their debut EP last week and it is a thing a beauty. I find it rare to listen to an album that is solid from start to finish, this release is that. From the very first note to the last you are pulled into a black hole of awesomeness. A black hole that you enjoy, one that you don’t want to escape. It leaves you wanting more.
Yes one of the first things you may notice are the angelic vocals of David Butler but let me tell you this is a complete band, they all write their own parts and then bring it all to the table. And when combined they are amazing. They are like the Voltron of pop punk. Josh Willis and Dan Petro, the guitarists complement each other nicely. Together they bring a very crisp sound to the band. Then you have Ryan Alderson whom plays bass, his low ends are some of the best you will hear right now in pop punk. This beast isn’t of course completed, you cannot forget the frantic drumming of Myles Clayborne. This guy is insane. I feel like he may be a machine, a drum machine that is. HA!
Over the past few weeks I have caught myself humming or actually singing these songs more than I know. If David ever gets sick and misses a show, I so could fill in. It may not sound as good but gosh darn it I know the lyrics. That’s one of the elements I think of when someone mentions pop-punk, unforgettable verses and choruses. How many of us would catch ourselves humming, “All the Small Things” or “Dear Maria, Count Me In” or even any Real Friends song these days. Something about boney knees. This album is full of them. The catchiest song very well might be “Life on a Treadmill” From the very first line, “My room faintly smells of vomit, there’s no better deterrent” to “Every time I wake up thinking that I am better than this.” These songs are going to get stuck in people’s brains. Then there are lines like, “the forest of your hazel eyes leaves me without direction. I left a breadcrumb trail of unsent texts and squandered chances.” Man who writes like that? I love that line. This album is full of lines like that. The writer very well could be poet if this does not pan out for them.
Another element that I enjoy is at times these guys have an easy core sound. It’s just the right amount too. There are some bands that adds too much of a good thing and it doesn’t work out the way they want to. That isn’t the case here. The title track, “Amends” displays this very well. It incorporates easy core elements at just the right parts and it works. It makes the song. It also in the song that you will find one of my favorite parts, around the 2:53 mark.
Overall this is a solid release. It is one of those EPs that leave the listener wanting a full length. I honestly can’t wait to see what the future holds for this band. The potential is crazy. Last but not least they got the stamp of approval from my preschool kids at work. Heroes like Villains are now their favorite dance party jams. Way to go guys.
If you are wanting to experience this live, you’ll have your chance February 27, 2016 at their EP release show at Woodlands here in Columbus. They have tickets now and I’ll have some soon as well.
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