Well, here’s a thing: a debut album in the pop punk genre from a Bournemouth-based band who are also hitting the road for gigs in 2024.
The album is released on all platforms on September 13.
Weak Asleep are:
Chris Parsons, Vocals
Eric Duxbury, Lead Guitar
David Williams, Rhythm Guitar
Ciaran Sheekey, Bass
Craig Frampton, Drums
Before listening, a bit of background on a new band often helps. So here is my background information gleaned from extensive research into the press release!
Weak Asleep are a 5-piece band from the sunny shores of Bournemouth, UK, drawing on influences across a spectrum of both pop and alternative music scenes.
Their goal for world dominance is to have their lyrics and melodies stuck in your head.
Their debut album, Romance & Ricochets, has been almost a decade in the making. It all began when Chris Parsons (vocals) and Eric Duxbury (lead guitar) crossed paths in their twenties, and what started as a duo grew into a dynamic trio, and eventually, the full five-piece powerhouse they are today. The album dives deep into the highs and lows of friendships, relationships, and everything in between, drawing inspiration from the band’s real-life experiences over the past ten years.
The 11-track album features fan-favorite singles like “Abyss,” “Get Better (Or Worse),” and “Just Friends,” plus a surprise cover of Maisie Peters’ “Lost The Breakup.” The band sees Peters as the UK’s answer to Taylor Swift, and Chris, a longtime fan, was eager to put their unique spin on this unexpected gem.
Romance & Ricochets is a genre-blending adventure, from the heavy-hitting “Typewriters” with its metalcore growls and doom-laden riffs to the softer, more introspective tracks like “Last Note” and “Oh Minnesota,” featuring stunning harmonies by producer Lou Sawdy.
Recorded at The Ranch in Southampton—where legends like Creeper, Boston Manor, Rolo Tomassi, and Funeral For A Friend have also laid down tracks—this album is a testament to the band’s evolving sound and ambition.
Onwards to my review.
“R + R,” the opening track, is made of segments from the album. A 22-second sound montage.
“Just Friends” comes out and grabs attention. My first connection with the band and we have a bright, commercial airwave punk sound. I remember when we spoke to Jen Razavi of The Bombpops and she mentioned the importance of melody in her liking of melodic punk, and this instantly showcases melodic songwriting and swagger.
“Get Better (Or Worse)” has Craig Frampton impressing on the drums, I like that drum beat confidently anchoring the track. It has a smart chorus, a decent guitar riff and it blasts along. Another decent vocal performance as well from Chris Parsons. So far, so good!
“Abyss” opens up with some California guitar play mixed with some punk angst. Do you remember The Marmozets? They had this math rock, fun post-hardcore sound and this was in that territory.
“Vampires at Night” slides through my headphones and has the most commercial groove so far, one for Radio 1 or Metro to take a note of methinks. It’s another solid group performance and the vocals are holding up well. Some great instrumental harmony near the end.
“Typewriters” is a heavy track and shows why the punk label is attacked on the sticker! From a listening perspective, it was a clear gear change from the earlier album, almost looking at a different demographic of listeners. The band probably loved it, and I bet it kicked it live, but it was almost a square peg for this album’s sound.
“It’s Called Instinct” returns to the sound of the earlier album. “Hey princess, this one is about you!” I guess she knows who she is! It was a song that I found myself following the lyrics with interest; it’s the demons that can lead to flight. We all have them. Interesting track with a story. I’m going to give a nod to the drums again, solid!
“Last Note” is a ballad with some great vocals and acoustic guitar. I liked the melody and the track as a whole; it was a great piece of songwriting and one I played again as soon as it had finished. Well done, it fires a bullet!
“Oh, Minnesota” (featuring Lou Sawdy) is a melodic ballad, a soft ballad, reflecting on life and love. This one was nice to listen to, kind of dreamy. I liked when the guitars bit into it toward the end. I’m thinking Lou Sawdy was the background vocalist here; (?) they worked well for the track.
“Lost the Breakup” returns to that American rock style feel; it is a great listen for late-night radio and is the cover track for the album. Kind of a sexy song! This one was another one that commercially rocks on a theme of ‘look what you missed’ when you missed out on me!
“The New Sound” completes the album in confident style, a kind of bouncy pop punk coming in at just under three minutes.
In summary, this has a bit of an American melodic punk sound. For a band releasing their debut album, it’s quite slick and they are very comfortable with their sound. Each song has a distinctive flavor, some far more bitter than others. The solid drum sound drives the car and I liked that guitar on “Last Note” a lot! For a debut album, it is brimming with ideas and confidence, boding well for what will come.
Standout tracks: “Last Note,” “Vampires at Night,” and “Lost the Breakup.”
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You can stream their music here
The bands Instagram is here
Catch the band live:
10 October 2024: The Railway, Winchester, Slackrr support (+ Busking for Misfits, Oh Rococo)
24 October 2024, Anvil, Bournemouth, TBC
8 November 2024: Four Horsemen, Bournemouth: Weak Asleep headline (+ Naema, The Raid)
30 November 2024: The Hobbit, Southampton: Give a Gift: An Alternative Christmas
By Stevie Ritson