State Lines – “State Lines” [EP]

Searing guitars burst this one open before vocals enter as a steadying backbone for the next eleven minutes of sublime pop-punk bombast. State Lines bring it all to the table for this tight EP, playing every card smartly and relying on a boisterous punk energy for propulsion.

The tempo change at the minute-forty mark of “Plenty of Time” cements this EP as a success, jumpstarting the band’s intensity and snapping the audience to attention. It’s a raucous outing that highlights what this Long Island outfit has to offer – from the snarling opening chords of the EP to the dangerously solid middle-fifth of “Win Free”. These guys are playful but never overzealous; never straying too far from the formula of their earlier record. But the slight steps towards a heavier sound, especially with the scratchier vocals of “5’s on the Elephant”, pay off handsomely with these four tracks.

“Cave In” is the weakest effort – even with that great brooding bridge – but the strength of the other three songs more than makes up for it, and one can only hope this excellent record is a harbinger of greater things to come.

Track Listing:

01. 5’s On the Elephant
02. Plenty of Time
03. Cave In
04. Win Free

Run Time: 11:07
Release Date: June 26, 2012

Check out the songs: “5’s On the Elephant” and “Win Free”