Unsigned: ‘Dumb’ mini album - 21 AGAINST

Llanelli, South Wales may not seem the likeliest production region for both highly-polished punk-pop, but that’s how hotly tipped quartet 21 Against open things on this demo. 'Dumb' is your typical, catchy as hell, hook-heavy bouncy bubblegum tune. It’s also the best thing on this mini album length demo.  '4 O’clock' goes for a slightly beefier, Foo Fighters type sound, and does succeed in accomplishing a pleasingly crunchy rocker.  But from this point on, 21 Against opt to go the way of stadium-sized, lighters-in-the air ballads.  The results are mixed; They do epic ('So what if I') and pensive ('she leaves the light on') better than mean and moody ('Let Down'). There’s certainly no Nickelback-style atrocities, but the feeling remains that the band are not at their best when attempting the slow-burning mid-tempo thing. Nevertheless, a mature, well-produced half-hour of sound promises much.

6/10
Matt Tomiak