So after listening to this 7-track EP on four train journeys, blasting it in my room or just on my iPhone walking round town, I thought it would be a good idea to review 'In At The Weekend' by This Years Winner Is. I thought it would be really hard to keep it fair and unbiased as this EP was recorded by the band that I went on tour with last summer. We had an awesome time and they are great guys. Sometimes it's easy to be let down with a bands recordings when you know their songs live so well and I was worried that they might lose the bite that they posses on-stage. This is most definitely not the case.
When I first heard the album I was really impressed. 'Fair doo's boys, you've made an awesome EP, good job,' I thought to myself. It's quite easy among friends to just expect something to be at a certain level and give them props for it or even be obliged to like it. I was on the train today just listening subconsciously when I realized it wasn't just a good effort by my mates; musically and technically, this is a fucking amazing album. In an attempt to remain unbiased I started trying to find things wrong with it and that was probably the most difficult part of the whole review.
This EP has it all. Catchy choruses, awesome harmonies and beastly breakdowns that would put most metal bands to shame. And it's LOUD. I hate half arsed mixing jobs but that's definitely not the case with this. And the drums are incredible. I could go on...
I don't think I can review the tracks individually, they are all incredible and each one is different from the last with an awesome contrast between the sugary vocals and the brutality of the instruments. I'd have no reservations at all at putting this up there with Four Year Strong's Enemy Of The World, which I consider one of the best albums I've heard in the past year. Any fan from pop-punk to post-hardcore music would find time for this.
It's hard to fault. I really like Elliot's gut-busting line in Onwards To Onchan, "You make this, so hard for meeeee." If I could find any criticism it would possibly be that there's not enough of these long belted out lines in the rest of the EP. That and there are only seven tracks, I just want more!!!
My favourite tracks on the EP are either Hey Superstar or I'm Everybody's Nobody. Both are completely different but the build up in Nobody is awesome when the full band comes in after the acoustic intro. Check out the breakdown in First Base In Third Person too... All I can say is OMG.
This band aren't just carried by a wicked drummer or strong vocalist, every single one of them brings something into this. This really isn't just a review of my mate's band, this is a review of a solid EP that they should be really proud of. Please do your bit to support this band and BUY it, I know I will be when it comes out.
I'm giving this EP
4.5 out of 5
(if I'd given it 5 I think people would say I was being biased)
If you like TYWI you should also check out these bands:
Four Year Strong, Me Vs. Hero, Just Surrender
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