So many aggressive pop-punk bands excel out of Canada’s scene: Like Pacific, We Were Sharks, even Sum 41, and Bearings, though the latter two are slightly more melodic. This type of sound does well in the environment that it lives in. Now, we’re introduced to Calling All Captains – a slight combination of at least two or more of the aforementioned acts, if not all four.
What has always been weirdly entertaining, specifically within the alternative realm, is fans and their love for bands that sound oddly similar to another contemporary. (Personally, I think WSTR sounds more enjoyable than Neck Deep, even though the bands share literally the same material in nearly every song). It’s seen here with Calling All Captains and, not only their Canadian counterparts but, so many other acts, as well. Some find this distasteful and pointless, to make music almost identical to a band in the same exact scene. But it doesn’t seem to have any impact on an amount of success or even touring, especially considering Neck Deep took WSTR on tour in their last North American run. It doesn’t necessarily mean the music is bad.
Calling All Captains’ third EP, Nothing Grows Here, is nothing new, by any means. You can find each song’s sound on another track or album by a good majority of other energetic pop-punk bands. But it’s really fun to listen to. “Disconnected” and the title track, “Nothing Grows Here,” are among the EP’s finest, with messages concerning mental health and a catchy hook; a slower song “Fool’s Gold” comes a surprise, mixing in a varying melody; the album concludes with “Out Of My Head” which rides a Hit the Lights-esque riff.
Nothing Grows Here isn’t going to be enjoyable if you’re looking for something new and refreshing, but it’s definitely not a bad album. The production is superb (unknown credit according to Spotify) and the songwriting is undeniably well-executed. As your average pop punk album, this is one of the best.
