HANDGUNS
Don’t Bite Your Tongue
(Pure Noise Records)
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The pop punk resurgence is still in full swing, the newest must-hear band taking the melodic, punchy and anthemic route being Harrisburg, PA’s HANDGUNS. A quick listen of bouncy rhythms and unrelenting energy, if you had to make a checklist of all things necessary to construct the perfect pop punk disc, there’s no doubt Don’t Bite Your Tongue would meet all the requirements. With dual vocal harmonies, gritty melodies, pounding drums and universal themes surrounding the trials and tribulations of life, these up and comers didn’t waste anytime penning the essential disc for the fist pumping crowd who like their punk rock with a heavy dose of tunefulness. A band who has paid their dues and then some rising up and out of the basements of the DIY punk scene, with this timeless, polished and extremely well written EP in their arsenal there’s no doubt these guys could easily follow in the footsteps of household names like THE WONDER YEARS or NEW FOUND GLORY. (TH)
Coming from the label behind releases of TRANSIT, MAN OVERBOARD, THE STORY SO FAR, and more punk rock greats, it’s not hard to guess what HANDGUNS will sound like before even playing the record. Luckily, this is not a negative thing, as the band shares the best elements of most of these bands. While I personally believe they give off that MAN OVERBOARD vibe more than anything, it really doesn’t matter. The music is good, and that’s what should be focused on. HANDGUNS may not be as memorable as some of the label’s other artists, but Don’t Bite Your Tongue is thoroughly enjoyable and fun to play when you’re in the mood for some good punk rock. The lyrics could use some work (several lines bring to mind the very early years of BLINK-182), but it’s forgivable. HANDGUNS probably won’t blow you away or become your next favorite band, but it’s likely that they will win you over nonetheless. With tracks like “Sink Like Lead”, these guys could really turn some heads from now until their next record. (NL)
Popularity: unranked
