Across The Atlantic - Works Of Progress (CD)

San Antonio quintet Across the Atlantic look to make in impressive splash in the pop-punk genre with their debut LP Works of Progress, an energetic blend of catchy choruses and surprisingly heavy instrumental arrangements. Over the years the pop-punk genre has drawn a level of criticism for one reason or another. While some listeners feel the genre can be too sophomoric for its own good (usually due to the admittedly crude work from artists like Blink-182 and Sum 41) or that it’s sound is just too safe when compared to the genre’s more aggressive stylistic roots, pop-punk has undeniably shifted into a much more varied scene throughout recent years. While this change has helped the genre gain more credibility it has also created a wider and somewhat more challenging field to sort through. Some artists like The Menzingers or Chumped remain closer to their punk upbringings, creating fast punk music that still carries catchy enough hooks to warrant the pop-punk label. Other bands like The Wonder Years and Real Friends definitely lean more towards the genre’s pop elements, creating accessible tunes that still carry enough bite to make listeners aware of their punk influences. So where does Across the Atlantic fall within this spectrum? Works of Progress is a unique blend of everything mentioned thus far, as well as packing a few surprises along the way.