Album Review

Bleach Blonde – Bleach Blonde

• 25th Jan 2013

Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Bleach Blonde are five-piece dealing in their own brand of alt-rock. The band, comprising of two former members of Drop Dead, Gorgeous, are determined to make their mark, and with their self-titled EP released by the rather prestigious Rise Records, it’s safe to say that they’ve begun in the right place.

With label-mates such as Of Mice & Men, Sleeping With Sirens and Memphis May Fire, all bands with a little more…bite, Bleach Blonde were always going to stick out like a sore thumb. But who’s to say that’s a bad thing?

Bleach Blonde’s first release, clocking in at just over eight minutes is a solid effort; three tracks long, it gives the listener a good idea of what they’ll be hearing on the band’s next release – a full-length they’ll be beginning to record in February of this year.

And what is that, you may ask? With echoes of ‘The Party Scene’-era All Time Low and more than a little bit of pop-punk kick, the EP will sit well with fans of bands like The Audition – the three songs are catchy in their own way, but with little substance. Danny Stillman’s vocals work well with those of David Barella’s, reminiscent of Derek Sanders and Jason Lancaster of Mayday Parade on their first LP, but aren’t anything to write home about.

In short, this isn’t an EP that will make you forget to breathe, but there’s nothing inherently bad about it, either. The standout track ‘Play Catch Up’ showcases the Denver outfit’s potential – it screams for a sing-along, and the EP itself only benefits from being listened to on repeat. Suffice to say that if the band tap into a little more of that catchy potential on their next release, there’s no reason as to why a room full of people won’t be singing their songs back to them.

Venue: Bleach Blonde
Support Band: Rise Records