As We Go – Stumble And Stand

As We Go are a five piece punk band who hail from the city of Cologne in Germany, Stumble And Stand is their debut full length and it follows on from their debut DIY EP, Alright For Now that was unleashed in 2014. With their DIY credentials and the fact that Stumble And Stand was recorded with renowned producer Uwe Sabirowsky, responsible for production on Beatsteaks, Boysetsfire and The Donots records, then this is an album that has the potential to be something to look forward to.

From the first track, All Things, it is clear that this is a full tilt punk rock album with a hefty influence from other side of the Atlantic. The subject matter isn’t going to raise any eyebrows, loss, unity and of course beer, are all covered across Stumble And Stand‘s eleven tracks and 35 minutes. The pace doesn’t relent, the guitar hooks are all strong and the production is perfection, no surprises there given the quality of the man at helms pedigree, and whilst it’s hard to pick a favourite from this album I think that Waking Up My Friend stands slightly above the other ten cuts on this impressive debut, but only slightly.

There is a clear influence from Hot Water Music but is that a bad thing, this is eleven tracks of melodic punk rock with anthemic fist pumping choruses that doesn’t disappoint on any level. Stumble And Stand isn’t the most original album I’ve heard this year, but it’s such an energising and consistent album that I find myself not caring in the slightest. If I had a major criticism of this album it would the cover art, I find it slightly misleading as the cartoonish style hints at something a lot poppier than the hard edged melodic punk that comprises Stumble And Stand. Had I not been reviewing Stumble And Stand I might well have passed this album over, hopefully I can stop a few others making that mistake as this is a seriously impressive and uncompromising slab of punk rock.

Stumble And Stand can be ordered here