Self dubbed as "Sweden easycore," Abandoned By Bears is a band that wants to be noticed for being different. Unfortunately, they might have been lost in translation with their debut EP When Nothing Goes Right, Go Left.
"Homegrown," the introduction to the EP, comes in with synth and a pop-punk vibe. All of a sudden, heavier guitar riffs add to the track and easy core begins to have a slight definition. "Homegrown" transitions quickly into "Bomberman Vs. Megaman," a nod to two popular video game characters.
This is where the lovechild of Hello Goodbye, Chunk! No Captain Chunk, and A Day to Remember begins. That is the simplest way to describe what Abandoned by Bears showcased on this EP. While I understand that they were attempting to bring something new to the genre, it became a muddled sound as the EP progressed. The instrumentals sounded far too similar to Chunk's on "Heads or Tails" and detracted from Abandoned By Bears' novelty.
The consistent addition of "Blegh" was also a distraction. Yes, it may be metal core's go to phrase like "yeah" was for Creed, but a song can stand solid on it's own without "blegh".
Vocally, I wasn't too impressed. There was nothing different about the vocals than any other pop punk act. However, both vocalists Leon and Fredric gave solid performances on "Hazard Pay." The instrumentals on When Nothing Goes Right, Go Left overshadowed the vocals though. Again, while not groundbreaking, the balance between synth and breakdowns was consistent. There wasn't too much of one sound going on, even though at times it seemed like the EP was just one giant song.
Perhaps with some coaching and more experience, Abandoned By Bears will take it to the next level and make "Sweden Easycore" the newest trend. I would highly suggest taking a listen to the EP if you're a fan of Chunk! No Captain Chunk or A Day To Remember.
6.5/10