Empty Promise – Start From The Ground

Start From The Ground is one of those CDs that are incredibly hard for me to review because despite how much I enjoy this CD – and enjoy it I do – I find it hard to find the right words to describe exactly what it is that I like about the CD so much. But I guess I’ll try.

I guess the main reason is that the twelve track CD from Austria’s Empty Promise is a perfect reminder of the glory days of mid-nineties skate punk. Throughout it all, they never try to do anything more than that but are able to keep delivering the fast, slick guitar riffs with ease nonetheless. Melodic skate punk that sounds like a merger of Millencolin and No Use For A Name with an occasional Strung Out or A Wilhelm Scream flourish, Start From The Ground is a record that will bring back nostalgic memories and get the blood flowing at the same time.

It’s a record that never breaks any boundaries or soars to the heights of being called a classic but at the same time it remains a record that is undeniably good in every aspect. The musicianship is tight and well crafted, creating a drastically different backdrop for each song instead of simply rehashing the same three chords or structure every single cut. The vocals are melodic and intense, like a Jason Cruz and Joey Cape merger and every once in a while (Missed Chances and Wasting Time are the best examples) they throw in a perfect sing-along portion that just jumps out and – well – gets you to sing along.

Coming out of Austria, chances are that you’ve never heard Empty Promise before and that is a shame. They’re a band that deserve your attention and sound light years better than a lot of the stuff coming out of North America these days. One listen to the bass walk in Breaking Out, the A Wilhelm Scream intro to No More Betrayal, the NUFAN drumming on Constant Reminder or the insanely catchy, fun and melodic Wasting Time and you’ll be hooked. Fans of Pulley, 1208, and No Use For A Name should all check it out, they won’t be disappointed.

I guess they say it best in Wasting Time: Don’t tell me music is a joke and I am wasting time. It is everything I want and it just makes me feel alright.