Like Pacific – Like Pacific

Toronto pop punk group Like Pacific are introducing themselves through their Pure Noise Records debut EP. The five songs showcase their blend of pop punk and melodic hardcore, which is in the vein of fellow Canadians Living With Lions and Youth Decay. The vocals are screamed and the melodies are tempered with hardcore influences, although there are thankfully few breakdowns.

The five tracks here are straight forward modern pop punk with flourishes of melodic hardcore. It’s more melodic than Polar Bear Club, but grittier than New Found Glory, existing somewhere in the middle where guys with beards and a closet full of flannel live. There is a rawness that betrays their budget limitations, which sometimes works in their favour and sometimes leaves the listener wanting more. 

Their label has been making a name for themselves with a steady stream of high quality EP releases and a few full albums. Unfortunately, Like Pacific don’t quite live up to the expectations of the rest of the label. The vocals are grittier than most of their pop punk groups, which is refreshing, but it’s all been done before by multiple other groups. The nice thing about an EP is that it generally serves as an introduction to a group, allowing a band to mature before releasing a full length. There is a likeability heard here, it just needs to be developed more.