Album Review

Margate – On The Other Side

• 6th Nov 2009

Overlooking the fact that Margate has to be one of the shittest band names in the history of the universe, On The Other Side is an instantly enjoyable and deceptively complex album. The second effort from this californian trio, there is melody and harmony in abundance to accompany the clean, crunchy guitars and mean rhythms.

There’s a genuine excitement here (‘Are you a man if you pull the trigger? Are you a man if you don’t’?) coupled with a depth and intensity that most wouldn’t perhaps associate with a pop punk three piece.

Whilst the comparisons in sound are easy to make – Jimmy Eat World, Saves The Day, early Weezer – most of them are also lazy and inaccurate, as guitarist Doug has shredding ability more akin to Blacktop Mourning’s Max Steger than any of their more radio friendly contemporaries.

Margate show they are capable of tenderness too, evident in A New Hope and single Time And Time Again – and each song is immediate, powerful and spiky, making the record feel shorter than it’s 40 minute length.

There are a couple of less serious numbers (see My Dog Duke and Believe In Steve) but what else can be expected from a band who named their debut album Songs In The Key Of Awesome? The point is, these guys sound like they mean it, and in 2009, that’s a rare thing.