Batten Down the Hatches EP Review
Reigning in from Central Jersey, pop punk band Batten Down the Hatches (commonly abbreviated to BDTH or nicknamed “Batten”) have been steadily rising up within the current music scene. Including the talents of John McManus (vocals), Joey DiCamillo (guitar), Adam Lotfi (guitar), Bryan Little (bass), and Kevin Sardy (drums) the group brings together a brand of pop punk that includes just the right levels of Four Year Strong and A Day to Remember. Putting together a brand of music that blends together breakdowns, memorable lyrics, melodies, and overall fun isn’t an easy task but Batten can certainly make it seem so.
With the release of their second EP “Beginnings,” Batten Down the Hatches makes it clear that they’re making no plans of losing momentum. Starting the EP off, “Draw The Line” gives a direct punch from the very first note. Two-stepping and violent finger pointing were made for songs of this aggressive nature. With lyrics stating that enough is enough and putting your foot down on complete nonsense is not only easily relatable but it also provides the perfect words to scream along to. It’s just such an aggressively fun song overall and simply begs to be heard live.
Showing off a bit of their versatility, “Rich Mahogany” gives a more fun, almost boppy feel musically. If “Draw the Line” gave a view of their more heavy influences, then “Rich Mahogany” definitely plays on their lighter roots. Describing the ever-going battle between priorities and pretty girls, “Rich Mahogany” is a must-have for the roadtrip playlist.
Giving listeners a breather, “On My Time” gives listeners a little more diversity for their musical indulgences. Sometimes acoustic tracks are attacked for being cliché, generic, and overall boring but this particular song deters from these stereotypes. The guitars start off pretty steady and predictable, but then pick up and bring a certain flair that brings another dimension to the typical acoustic song. More-so, the vocals fit and flow well with the instrumentals AND with the lyric’s emotional ups and downs. “On My Time” may require some time to grow on some listeners but when it does it sticks.
Ending their EP with “Beginnings” may seem a bit backwards from a purely literal standpoint but it’s appropriate. It’s quintessentially the perfect song to close with. With gang vocals shouting “we don’t know what the future holds, can we rise above and break the mold to this life that’s expected of me and you. We can conqueror the world if we see this through” behind Johnny’s voice, it creates a wonderful feeling of community and understanding. Instrumentally, “Beginnings” is pretty much the buffer between the first two tracks showing aggression, breakdowns, and softer melodies. Batten blends their elements well to give a memorable end to their Beginnings EP.
Overall, Batten Down the Hatches gives an EP that will satisfy any sort of pop-punk fan. Whether you prefer the hard punches or the simple fun moods of the genre, Batten has a track for you. From personal experience, I can say that the boys of BDTH put on a great show and I certainly look forward to seeing them perform this particularly fun and lively EP, well…live.
Rating: 9/10
Check ‘em out at http://www.facebook.com/battendownthehatches
- Julie Schwartz
