Above The Underground - Sonder

Artist: Above The Underground
Title: Sonder
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 17th February 2014
Reviewed By: Dan Stoten

As a writer it can be tricky knowing how to review a new record. Depending on the day and way I feel, sometimes I blast through the tracks quickly, before settling down and giving them a proper listen for a good few hours. Sometimes I have them on in the car for days. Sometimes I have the album on repeat in the background while I do something else. With Sonder, the debut full-length from Chester quartet Above The Underground, I used both the first and third methods.

While I was listening to the record, I had the England vs Denmark game on. It was dull, slow and processional, pretty much as most of England's international friendlies are. What I needed was something to jolt me from my waking slumber these highly paid 'heroes' had put me into.

Unfortunately, Sonder did not manage to provide the jolt I needed. My initial feel (having had the album on twice over the ninety tedious minutes) was that this is a thoroughly competent and stunningly well polished album yet lacks a bit of the spark needed to propel it beyond mediocrity.

I then settled and gave the record a proper, thorough listen, spending time with it, noticing it's intricacies. And, although my initial judgement wasn't too far wrong, this is very definitely a record worth spending time on, and a record which displays a young band with a tremendous, tremendous amount of potential.

There are some flashes of genuine brilliance here amongst what is a strong if slightly mainstream pop-rock record. I Was Never Lost opens with a catchy hook and continues into an energetic and fast-paced emo-tinged pop-rock track, delivering snappy drums and enough aggression to add some passion. The press information indicates similarities with Taking Back Sunday and Thrice, and although still some distance from these bands, there are definitely shared elements. It's a mature track, I Was Never Lost, one which belies the youth of this band. Kirkman's vocal is excellent, too.

One of my favourite tracks on the record is Reprise. Very much a guitar-led track, the repeating gang vocal and simple, head-nodding style of the melody is instantly appealing. It's simplicity is refreshing, yet it feels like a deceptively complex song.

Aside from the aforementioned, Weathered is driven in it's style, once again snappy and punchy. It is, as is the case with a number of other tracks here, somewhat familiar, but it's done well so it's hard to be tough on the band. Lavender Town Syndrome, too, stands out for the warmth in it's slightly softer vocal and more welcoming guitar.

Fundamentally, Above The Underground are a young band and what they have produced here is exceptional considering this. Sonder is a genuinely polished and accomplished debut which shows this is a band with a huge amount of potential. There's nothing to actively dislike here at all, and plenty which you will warm to. Give the record some time and you'll definitely be satisfied.

The only slight problem is that bands such as Gnarwolves and Neck Deep are also young. Yet these are bands which are leading their scenes and delivering truly outstanding records....