There’s rarely such a thing as overnight success, but at the beginning of 2025, it almost felt as if Scottish pop punk band Around 7 have been lurking on the underground without a “major breakthrough” forever. That’s certainly not a reflection on the quality of their songs or playing abilities, however – the four tracks that make up their ‘A Tale of Martyrs & Heathens’ EP are absolutely superb.
By opening with a barrage of sharp chords and a round of massive whoahs, the EP’s lead track ‘Anything From You’ really isn’t shy in advertising its old school pop punk intents. The combo of bright guitar sounds and enthused vocals immediately throws the audience back into the late 90s. That’ll be enough for some new listeners and late-comers to be immediately impressed, and as the number hits its stride with the help of riffs that sound like early blink-182 with bigger boots colliding with early (classic) Face To Face, everything really starts to feel like the ultimate homage to pop punk’s glory years. The lead vocal taps effortlessly into something that sounds like a blend of Good Charlotte and Face To Face, and really helps to build a melodic sound with a broad appeal. It’s a classic track even before taking a world of unashamed “na na na”s, which obviously take this tune from the realms of merely being catchy to being absolutely infectious. For those who always keep an ear for great musical flourishes, there’s something of much greater interest here too, when bassist Lachlan Wallace leads the charge with some great lead work, showing how this is a punky tune that’s anything but disposable.
‘This Ain’t Your Soundtrack’ comes with a heavier feel at first, when a barrage of drums kick off a rousing intro where a hard rhythm really grabs the attention, before gang vocals suggest crowd unity. Moving into the body of the track, you’ll find more tautly played pop punk loaded with sharp edged guitars, and the way the huge “hey”s from the intro are recycled to prop up the chorus leads to something that’ll certainly rouse a live audience. It isn’t immediately catchy like ‘Anything From You’, but another confident vocal and a lot of muscle within a great arrangement is enough to show a talented band moving forward. For those hoping to encounter something with a tougher guitar sound, the moody ‘Change For Me’ dispenses with the punky, and shows off the Around 7 knack for retro sounding alternative rock. The intro riffs have a pleasingly dirty feel, and once the drums kick in, the combination of grit and groove really catches the ear. This isn’t purely about overdriven guitar sounds, either, since there’s a great countermelody coming via a second vocal for one of the major hooks, and once the band settles into an instrumental break, the harder edged drumming and chugging elements really give the rhythm section a boost. With hints of Biffy Clyro creeping through the cracks and more of a Scottish accent allowed to colour the vocal, it’s great to hear a more mature sounding band at work.
Last up, ‘Will To Survive’ changes the mood yet again by sharing a quiet, emo-centric intro where muted notes are joined by a world of vocal effects. A busy, percussive sound hints at more exciting things over the horizon, and soon enough, a choppy guitar riff builds tension. When the band explodes into life, their mix of punky whoahs – of which they seem increasingly fond – and Bush-like riffery creates a strong crossover sound, but if anything stands out, its yet more impressive bass work from Wallace who ensures this never feels like a safe or uninspired retread of late 90s sounds. Factor in a simple yet melodic lead guitar break, a heavier breakdown and a thoughtful lyric, and this packs most of Around 7’s best traits into a tightly wound four minutes.
Almost three years on from their ‘Insult To Injury’, and an unbelievable twelve years on from their self-titled release, ‘A Tale of Martyrs & Heathens’ finds Around 7 going from strength to strength. Despite just offering four tracks – two of which appeared as digital singles well ahead of the release – this release doesn’t sell anyone short. That’s largely because the EP format doesn’t allow for filler, of course, but by sequencing the bangers at the front and the more riff-laden, thoughtful material for a second act, the EP has a yin/yang effect that makes everything seem more complete. If you enjoyed the singles, then checking out the EP should be considered a priority.
March 2025