The Story So Far – The Story So Far
4/5
Written by Caitlin Galipeau
In 2011, The Story So Far released their first full-length album, Under Soil and Dirt. Since then, they have been exploding on the pop punk scene. The Walnut Creek, CA natives have since released a second full-length, an acoustic EP, and completed a main stage stint on the Vans Warped Tour in 2014. The long awaited release of their third album has left fans on the edge of their seats, eager to see what else they could offer. Now, the wait is finally over.
The Story So Far has always been more punk on the pop punk spectrum; the five piece cling to their punk roots on their latest, self-titled release, somehow managing to not make it sound boring and overdone. The Story So Far achieves a fresh sound without losing the sound that made fans fall in love with them in the first place.
Vocals from Parker Cannon are haunting on this release, particularly on the one acoustic track, “Phantom.” The song is reminiscent of the acoustic style presented on The Story So Far’s acoustic EP, Songs Of. It’s a refreshing change from the other tracks, which remain upbeat in typical pop punk fashion. Cannon commands a lot of power with his voice but does not outshine the rest of the band’s efforts.
Many of the songs off of The Story So Far are very angsty, offering yet another musical outlet to pour rage into. “Distaste” adopts heavier musical elements making it a perfect song to start one hell of a mosh pit. All of the songs, except for “Phantom,” serve to be great circle pit material, much like the rest of The Story So Far’s discography.
All in all, this album was a solid effort from The Story So Far. The band never seems to disappoint with their music. They do what they do best, although it would be nice to see something a little different from them. The band has an enormous amount of potential that is worth exploring. However, a wise man once said, “Nobody likes change.”
Stream the entire album via Alternative Press.
