Handguns – Disenchanted

Harrisburg pop-punk band Handguns fits well alongside its trending peers.  Their style unmistakably aligns with the interchangeable “defend pop-punk” theme that goes hand in hand with touring with Man Overboard.  Of course we’re talking of the very homogenous late to mid-00’s sounding pop-punk – the type that trumpets the abundant high flying guitars and  hooks of bands like State Champs and Neck Deep.  For a relative newcomer, Handguns seems to grasp the basics; and while their third full length, Disenchanted, isn’t astoundingly unique, it demonstrates a commendable level of maturity.

To their benefit, Handguns seem to be willing to tackle familiar themes from a descriptive and well informed standpoint.  Rather than just whine about being lonely or socially inept, the band drops hints pertaining to living with mental illness and overcoming the emotional repercussions.  Opener “Self Portrait” frames the album’s underdog mantra in a positive light by borrowing a pivotal passage from Little Miss Sunshine.  After hearing protagonist Dwayne’s brief monologue on accepting yourself and following your dreams, vocalist Taylor Eby follows suit with the admission that, “Ever since I was a kid, I knew that I was different from the rest, with shaking hands and a chemically imbalanced head.”  From here the band explores themes like anxiety (“The Worst Of Me”), poor self esteem (“My Lowest Point”) and self defeating speak (“Bury Me”).  There’s even a little jab at the current state of pop-punk in “Carbon Copy Elitist.”

Musically though, Handguns primarily follow the status quo even if they tend infuse a few minor tricks in the mix.  Generally they adhere to the pop-punk family encompassed by staples like Man Overboard, Seaway, Neck Deep and State Champs.  If you’re not completely into that scene, then you may stand for at least a little letdown.  Their overall tempo and riff choices mostly roll out homogeneously in such a way that the music almost overpowers some of the uniqueness of the tracks.  On the plus side, speedy tempo changes (an occasional homage to 90’s skate-punk) and anthemic vocals such as on the title track prevent portions of Disenchanted from slipping into the forgettable side of the spectrum, although they definitely stray close to the line at times (“Missed Calls”).

Overall, Handguns offers plenty to enjoy even if they blend somewhat into the crowd.  Their message is smart, even if it is not entirely unique, and their hooks are catchy, even if they’re reminiscent of many of their peers.  Disenchanted is a good record with a fun little personality, even if it stands to be overshadowed by some of the direct competition.  In a nut shell: better than State Champs but behind The Wonder Years or Seaway.