Written by Killian O’Neil
The first track starts to roll on for a half of a second and I’m confused. Confused as to if my phone had skipped into another band or if it was actually Frontside that was blasting through the airwaves.
I had the pleasure of interviewing them about their upcoming release of their new EP Closer to Closure, a few months ago and had to take it for a spin. I was extremely excited to hear what they put out since I only got a teaser. Unfortunately, that excitement started to fade fast as the album continued to play. The first few seconds of “Give It Up” (their first track) is something like off of an old Coheed and Cambria, album but watered down. It had all of the proper ingredients, just enough screaming, and grit, not to mention the intricate guitar solo to catch your attention but the arrangement was all out of whack. It was very unclear on what they were doing or at the very least trying to do. There was a 50/50 shot that this album was going to be put to rest. Reluctantly, I didn’t turn it off and continued to keep an open mind, but truth be told it was a lot harder than I thought. With music, you can normally find a silver lining off an album and Einstein Killed Me is theirs.
“Einstein Killed Me” is the single they released off of Closer to Closure and now it’s evident as to why. That song is what makes Frontside stick out and really showcases the talent that they have. “Einstein Killed Me” is the only song that gives a clear idea of who they are as musicians and portrays what they are trying to convey.
Unlike the rest of the songs, this one has rhyme and reason. “Einstein Killed Me” teases you with a sexy intro and comes in softly. The vocals and drums slide in, preparing you for the buildup that, anyone who loves pop-punk is waiting for, and they surely deliver. The entirety of Closer to Closure is just one track melting into another. It all sounds the same. The mediocre vocals are either drowned out by the guitar riddled throughout this EP or non-existent. I can’t tell if Frontside is trying to be Coheed or A Day to Remember with how back and forth the sound is. Make no mistake about it, Frontside has all of the components to put out amazing records. Unfortunately, this time around they were unable to nail it on the head.
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