Album Review

The Audition – Chapter II

• 6th Jun 2012

The Audition return with a new EP called, appropriately enough, Chapter II. The Chicago based pop-punk band has been on something of a break over the last couple of years, and so it’s good to see some new material emerging.

This self released six track EP marks a new start to the band’s career. And it is a decent collection of big rock songs that should come over very well when played live. Lead singer Danny Stevens belts the words out in fine style backed by a band that have a good line in catchy melodies and hooks.

The EP opens with Who Do You Think You Are, an energetic and defiant track. The vocals are strong and there is some great guitar work in there too. You Make Me Sick follows in similar vein, this time mixing acoustic and electric guitars to good effect, but it is again the vocals that makes the track. Stevens has a confident delivery and his lyrics come clearly through in a powerful mix.

EVIL has, as the name might suggest, a darker feel to it. Opening with a heavily distorted voice and a sudden scream, it is dramatic from the off. The guitars fade, leaving space for the vocals, but the power is never far away. Back and Forth is an old school power chord based song. It’s not the strongest track on the EP but the falsetto vocals towards the end work well.

You Gotta Believe is a fairly standard slower rock ballad, but is well delivered. The closing track Talkin’ is a good rock song featuring a fast beat and some more nice guitar work. Lyrically there are a few rock clichés in there, but it works well and finishes with a flourish.

Overall this is a promising release from The Audition. It’s perhaps more rock and less pop that on some of their previous material, and if this is the direction that the band is heading then I’m looking forward to seeing what they can come up with next.