Some excellent tune-smithery that America's elite would struggle to compete with.

This debut album from Birmingham Pop Punk outfit is something of a cracker. Usually the preserve of America, Light You Up treads a well-worn path of catchy Pop Punk in the vein of All Time Low, Mayday Parade et al. Produced in San Francisco by Sam Pura, who also produced fellow Pop Punksters The Story So Far, you kind of know where this album is heading.

It's enjoyable fare though, characterised by high quality Pop Punk standards such as 'It's About Time', 'Haven't You Heard' or the harmony-induced 'Foxfire'. On occasions, as has been the trend with band's such as Lower Than Atlantis on their recent album, vocalist Tom Napier's English accent comes through like a beacon. It's almost as if the band is saying "listen to us, we can do Pop Punk too, and we're from England".

The fact that they can back it up with some excellent tune-smithery that America's elite would struggle to compete with means that beating the drum for their home country is totally justified.

Mike Newdeck