If you’re looking for some catchy new tunes to sing along to this Summer, then you might just find that in The Gospel Youth’s new EP, Empires.
Whilst the idea of combining melodic vocals with catchy riffs and a pop punk sensibility isn’t exactly revolutionary, it sure is fun, and there’s a reason this tried and tested formula keeps returning. Thankfully, what The Gospel Youth are good at is sticking to this formula to create perfectly crafted songs with the addition of a vocal line that isn’t completely smooth, bringing a raw edge to the otherwise neutral soundtrack.
Opener Stay Positive sets the tone for the EP with an addictive chorus and a charmingly stripped back verse in the latter half that focuses on this emotive vocal that we can’t get enough of. A piano outro then leads us into Homesick, which kicks off into a melody that You Me At Six would be proud of. Slightly more subdued but with some bloody lovely “ooh oohs” that make this one track that we’ll be singing along to. Things get really exciting again towards the end of the track, culminating in a moment with a harmony that really brings the whole thing together because really, what is catchy music without a few good harmonies?
The EP continues with Lighting Fires, a track that offers angsty lyrics and a chorus of gang vocals which proves to be very successful. It’s a welcome dynamic that keeps us interested before If She’s The Rope brings a more melancholy vibe to the fore with a heartfelt quality that continues throughout, but unfortunately it doesn’t really go anywhere.
Title track Empires boasts the best of TGY, all crashing drums and a riff through the verse that has us nodding our heads in agreement before the gang vocals are back to form a dramatic build up to the end of the track and the EP, and as they sign off with a softly sung “hallalujah”, we feel a similar sentiment.
If this all sounds like your cup of tea (and we think it will be for a lot of people due to the accessible nature of the music), you can catch them at the EP release show on 13th July at Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar. We’ll see you there!
