Higher Giant – Al’s Moustahce

Higher Giant are basically the who’s-who of the New York Hardcore scene. Featuring members of Kid Dynamite, Lifetime, Grey Area, Warzone, The Arsons and Token Entry, Higher Giant have a sort of pedigree and expectation attached to their name. Oddly enough they completely shatter that expectation but at the same time fulfill it by delivering a sound that shows a high caliber of experience and skill – successfully fulfilling the expectations that Higher Giant will be good – but a sound that is decidedly non-New York Hardcore.

Instead, Higher Giant is a straight forward pop-punk act and their sophomore release, a seven inch record on Black Numbers called Al’s Moustache, shows that hardcore isn’t the only genre these guys can play.

This isn’t your run of the mill pop-punk faire, it’s much more inventive than that; but it does bare some striking resemblances to some of the scene’s premiere acts. It’s a mixture of The Bouncing Souls with The Planet Smashers – you know, minus the ska element; but the vocalist comparison is spot on! Listen to Union Square and try not to pick out the Planet Smashers similarities. There’s even a bit of Avoid One Thing which works towards creating a short burst of pop-punk energy in the four track record.

Vocalist Ernie Parada sounds somewhere between Greg Attonito and Matt Collyer. The music has some of their hardcore elements to it, but it is more laid back as speed is no longer the main factor. This creates a bouncy, melodic punk foundation, driven by sing-along woahs and an up-beat tempo pushed forward by the very impressive rhythm section.

At only four songs long, Al’s Moustache is a strong but short release. It has built on the foundation that they laid with their debut EP, The First Five, and leaves you wanting to hear a bit more from them; because a full length will surely be a welcomed surprise.