NeverHood
One More Broken Promise (2004)
Brian Shultz
I could go on for three paragraphs about the cover, but you didn't come here for cover art critique. Let's just say that it's a bit deceiving, and this album was a whole lot better since I put the CD in my stereo expecting the worst.
NeverHood's One More Broken Promise (yeah, I know) shows a raw emo/skate/pop punk band in their obvious beginnings. The vocalist sounds a LOT like Sum 41 singer Deryck Whibley, most noticeably with the adolescent/raspy qualities of his voice. The music, which weakly straddles that fine line between pop and skate punk, is slightly more akin however (in an easy comparison) to Floridian statemates Last Laugh. One band influencing another in a local scene being a common thing, though, it's not a shocker.
This is prototypical, whiny "punk" fare with emotional leanings and decent backup vocals. There're definite spots of potential, though, like how the opening riff of "Phantom" reeks of an Alkaline Trio influence. I could visualize this band making a complete 360 for their next release á la Bayside and just ripping them off altogether (which probably wouldn't be a bad thing in this band's case). The closing track, an almost Bad Astronaut-esque instrumental complete with short bits of piano, probably would've made a great intro (if not a rip-off of Lagwagon's last effort) had it fit the band's style more, but the track is a nice change from the mediocrity regardless, and again shows some potential.
If they can take these influences and expand on them, and maybe rid the lyrical content of pop-punk cliché, Neverhood might be worth a listen. But it's not the present case.
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