Hailing from Northern California, four-piece Pop-Punk/Emo act, Second To Last, is about to release one of the best EPs of 2012 thus far. Vessel (2012) is a huge step up from the band’s 2011 release The Waiting Game and will surely set Second To Last apart from other strong up and coming bands in today's scene.
The four-song EP kicks off with Feels The Same, which is Vessel’s best track. The song opens with a very unique guitar riff, not often heard in Pop-Punk, and sets the pace for what is to come of Vessel. With a catchy hook for a chorus leading into an epic vocal at the end, which breaks down into a beautiful palm muted lead guitar part, this track has the potential to be a hit.
The next song, Turmoil, continues with a strong lead guitar, and effective dual vocals combining with a solid rhythm section to provide great parts such as the second verse. "I expected you to try, to see life through a different lens, burn bridges with all your friends, your only mode of self defense, hide and retreat again". The catchy and clever lyricism at this part shows that Second To Last have grown as songwriters and musicians with Vessel.
Overlapping vocal melodies on Cheap Sleep best showcase both singers' abilities and create an original sound for the band. This song has by far the best melodies on the EP and they continue into the last track Dry Spell. Emotional back and forth call and respond parts between the two singers, along with flawless harmonies carried out with a sense of ease end the release perfectly. The only part of this EP that isn't great is the hammer-on and pull-off lead guitar in Dry Spell, which comes off a bit cheesy and could have definitely been replaced with something better.
Besides Vessel only being four songs, it is a great release and shows the quick growth of yet another amazing Pop-Punk band in Second To Last. Go pick this one up when it comes out; I can’t get it out of my head.
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Written by Andrew Eichinger
