Album Review: Belmont – Self Titled

In the the few meagre years they’ve been in existence Belmont have toured extensively  and have built a reputation that has seen them hailed by many as the next big thing in pop punk, not the first band to have that accolade thrust upon them and a title that gives them a lot to live up to. Belmont‘s debut full length follows on from their critically acclaimed debut EP, Between You & Me, and their debut self-titled album is now available on a triple threat of coloured vinyl, CD and digital formats via Mutant League Records.

Belmont hit the ground running with Empty, a track that demonstrates a slightly off kilter approach to pop punk whilst ensuring that many of the genre’s hallmarks, including the breakdowns and harmony choruses, are present and correct, but there are original elements and Belmont appear to have adopted a magpie like approach to taking what they like from other genres to augment the sound of their self titled full length. Skatepunk speed makes an appearance, occasional metal core roars emerge, math rock intricacies complicate matters and hip hop beats make an unexpected cameo appearance, these elements are all thrown into the swirling mix that Belmont have concocted.

Belmont for me are not the next great pop punk act or the saviours or the scene, but having said that they do come at things from a refreshingly original angle, there is no attempt to recreate the glory days of the genre, although they do respectfully tug their collective forelocks to the godfathers of the scene on occasion. Belmont are trying hard to do something different and this is a positive in a genre which has largely become formulaic and unoriginal, but somewhere along the way they seem to have lost a little of the essence that made the great pop punk albums sparkle.

Belmont‘s self titled debut album can be ordered via Mutant League Records here