Pompey Rockers In The Atlantic have a new LP out that has found its way to RR towers, so we gave it a spin!
Opening with “Supervillain” we get an “Electro” guitar part with a neat sample. There’s some clangy guitars in the background, amidst the frenetic hitting of drummer Jordan. The almost “tortured” vocals sound like they’ve been recorded in an empty, darkened room. The quiet mid-section is where the vocals become more audible, before the big finish; and what a finish with a great ending!
“Running Away” has a simple enough intro with yet more heartfelt vocals. It’s maybe a break-up song, or a story of lost love. Midway through it gets angrier as emotion pours through. The softer vocal returns towards the end-there’s a running theme here. They even manage a Sham69 riff in this song, (which only those of a certain age will decipher)!
“You Mean Nothing To Me” begins with a gentle keys intro via Joe (Walter) and continues once again in the relationships theme. Once again the lyrics are delivered with heartfelt honesty. The sample in the background compliments the cymbal-led drumming, along with the way the guitars come in and the almost muffled vocals; making this such a great song. Where In The Atlantic differ from the crowd is their ability to remove the middle 8; in favour of a change of tempo, while still sounding original. “If I Was A Ghost” starts like its predecessor, soft and subtle with a slight Electro-sampled beat. I’m starting to think this collection was written as a diary of someone’s love life/break-up history-it’s as honest as it comes. There’s another great sample lurking in the background that just takes the song from the ordinary to the spectacular. It must resonate with every late teen male who’s ever experienced heartbreak.
“Faraway” begins all low tempo with its keys-led opening that keeps one guessing; before that rangey, distant-sounding vocal cuts through. It’s more a mid LP filler tune than standout cut, but keeps things interesting. “With The Lights Off” returns to what In The Atlantic do best. Clangy guitars, gentle picking and a steady beat behind another tortured love song. Once again emotion pours through. “With The Lights Off” is standard ‘teen love’ fare, yet seems to be the very essence of what they are about.
Title track “Teenage Lightning” opens all guns blazing and is much harder than the previous 2 songs. Harder hitting with a gravelly vocal, but the keys are the star turn here and take centre stage. The song ending is equally great. “Generation Nothing” opens with a sci-fi keys sample and promises great things. I’m tempted to say the guitars remind me of Southampton’s finest Broken Links, but that’s where the similarities end. It’s more Post/Punk/Electro than Rock but is a great song to have included; to break up the reliance on “heartbreak” songs, and is the standout track on this collection. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say there’s definitely a nod to Feeder in places. The frenetic, pounding drums behind those power chords and strong vocals are superb (without a trace of heartbreak), while the ending is just perfect.
“We Meet Again” has a subtle rim shot opening before that soft, gentle vocal kicks in. It’s quite obvious these guys don’t write throaty, Hardcore/Screamo songs. It’s all about heartfelt audible songs of life, love and loss. “We Meet Again” is possibly the weakest song on here and a tad repetitive. “Lost” ends this 10 song collection with a soft, acoustic intro before the band weigh in with the power. The Keys twinkle in the background as Sam (vox) strains every emotion in his delivery. It’s another standout cut and makes me think these guys have more in the tank. With youth on their sides I feel there’s scope to move on from the heartache/heartfelt, tortured songwriting on the majority of the songs featured here. Only time will tell.
Check out Teenage Lighting on their BandCamp page.
Line up
George Tate-Bass
Joe Walter-Keys
Jordan Jones-Drums
Sam Ray-Guitar/Vox
Track Listing
Supervillain
Running Away
You Mean Nothing To Me
If I Was A Ghost
Faraway
With The Lights Off
Teenage Lightning
Generation Nothing
We Meet Again
Lost
Links
http://intheatlantic.com/
http://facebook.com/intheatlantic
Review by Ross A. Ferrone.
