Album Reviews

Thought it was heard to get your friends together for a rehearsal while living in the same city? Wait until intercontinental flights are involved! Spread out over four continents, the members of Setbacks didn’t make it easy for themselves when it came to writing new material. But thanks to their mutual love of shredding, they somehow ended up with a full-length in the form of the aptly titled “Oceans Apart”.

The album cover might look more like something you’d expect from an emo-metal band, but the songs on here are pure-bred melodic punk tracks that seem to have been flown in straight from the 90ies with plenty of metal-tinged riffage to boot. Think of all your favorite Epi/Fat bands from yesteryear and you should have a pretty good idea of what’s coming at you.

Throughout fourteen blistering tracks, you will stumble across influences from everyone from NOFX and Strung Out to Pennywise and Pulley while being hit around the head with big melodic hooks, breakneck speeds and great backing vocals. Maybe the vocals are a bit too monotonous after a while, but there is no denying that tracks like “Don’t Bully Me” and “Remember” are simply badass.

Track listing:

1. Zenith
2. Too Much Time
3. Absent Minded
4. Remember (featuring. Étienne Dionne)
5. Blood Thirsty
6. Stand By Me
7. Don't Bully Me (featuring. Paul Stevenson)
8. Victory
9. Oceans Apart
10. No Regrets
11. Just Another Day
12. No Place Like Hell
13. Don't Panic (featuring. Steven Rawles)
14. Mind Control