This Time Around - The High Life EP

This Time Around

The High Life EP
self-released; 2014

3.2 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

This Time Around is a four-piece band comprised of Benny Garcia, Tony Vasquez, Eric Mesaros and Jorge Teran. The band released a complete DIY effort entitled The High LIfe EP. From the first song you should know what you are in for as they pull out a number of staples that come from that style of music called “pop punk”. The singer has a young nasally  voice that emits teenage angst while the guitars riff sound like a mixture between  New Found Glory, Green Day and Blink 182.

The recording quality of the The High Life EP leaves a number of things to be desired.  There wasn’t much separation in the mix between the instruments and the snare drums sounded boxy. Pretty far from the sharp, machine gun style snare you hear on a NOFX record. In all honesty the recording on The High Life sounds like a polished demo. To the bands credit this style of music is one of the hardest to capture without sounding like a ball of white noise.

Musically, the band is pretty sharp from all angles. The drummers pulls off some fantastic fills while the band can create a surge of energy they combine with vocal harmonies. As far as anthemic pop punk goes these guys have the style down pat and if you are a fan of the genre I think you will embrace The High Life EP.

The songs all have a similar style and approach. Loud, anthemic and fast. They kick things off with “Under the Overall” which tips their hat to the pioneers of the genres. The vocalist sings “If it's not one thing, then it's the other I can't take another set back I feel like I'm drowning, It's hours till the storm The sun doesn't shine down”. “Slapshot” contains some of that jaw dropping drumwork I was talking about while “No Hard Feelings” has some notable guitar work.

Pop punk style for whatever reason seems to  be a very contained genre that rarely displays much originality. This Time Around are no exception as they rely on what genre has already served us. I mention this because This Time Around not only have chemistry but there delivery is something that not every pop punk band possess. This Time Around can be a real threat is they can  begin to think outside the box and up the ante in terms of recording quality.

Become A Fan

Tweet