Snap Infraction’s debut full-length album ‘eephus’ is a vibrant indie rock record that seamlessly blends soft, pop-y soft rock and loud, heavy hard rock. The album possesses an open, pleasant sound with lyrics that are reflective and at times infuse the soundscape’s bright vibrancy with a tinge of melancholy.
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A Vibrant Opening with Moving Pianos
The opener ‘Keeping Score’ sets to tone, with its deep but bright tone. The percussion kicks in unapologetically, while the guitars scrape in after the second chorus. The lyrics are unapologetic in tone and reflective, perfectly setting the tone for the rest of the album.
‘Leave Without a Fight’ is a spunky track that keeps up the unapologetic vibrancy set by ‘Keeping Score’, with sharp guitars and percussion. The bridge is loud and expansive, with its rock anthem ‘ohs’ before it opens up to the final chorus.
The post-chorus on ‘Leave Without a Fight’ introduces a tinkling piano. This piano slows when the song ends, playing the beginning notes of the next track. This seamless transition into ‘Nothing Has Changed at All’ indicates a subtle tone shift.
This song feels a little more melancholic, with its moody instrumentation and vocal delivery. The lyrics seem resigned and reminiscent of a time gone by, with lines like “I’ve said all I can say/ So I’ll see you again/ In forever” and “…if I had my way/ I would rewind today/ Once more.” The beat of the drums is slower, a little heavier, and emphasised throughout to amplify the song’s mood.
The fifth track ‘Dream of an Answer’ keeps up the mood with its relaxing guitar-led looping melodies. The guitar solos found at interludes evoke different moods, layering the album with a complex melancholy.
The Highlight and Melancholic Wind Down
‘Tongue-tied’ is a stand-out on the album with its bright punky 2000s pop-rock, that feels familiar. The lyrics describe social anxiety in the spunkiest way and the instruments break down when the vocalist asks “What you gonna do when you’re tongue-tied?/ What you gonna do when you’re inside out of your mind…”. This is followed by open ‘ohs’ that feel nostalgic. The final refrain of these lines feels layered and all-encompassing, before ending on a cheeky note.
The seventh track on the album ‘Gift Horse’ feels laced with an intricateness with its moody guitars. The mood of the song is darker, planting itself firmly to one end of the album’s dual moods. The song keeps up the attitude on ‘Tongue-tied’ as is evident in the vocalist’s line delivery and tone.
The album begins to wind down with ‘Broken and Alive’, which feels more subdued. The vocals on the first verse sound like they come from a radio or speakerphone and sound distant. They burst out in the first chorus, here highlighting the vibrancy found throughout the album. The bridge brings back the processed vocal, a bit louder this time, building up to the final chorus before it finally explodes in a melodic influx of sound.
The Wind Down
‘You Tried To Get Away With It All’ sounds a bit like a pastiche of old pop-rock. Similar to what Harry Styles has done on his albums ‘Fine Line and ‘Harry’s House’. The vocal delivery feels different from the songs before it. The scratchy sounds in the interludes and the heavy tones of a grand piano make the song sound interesting. The song closes with a jazz-like breakdown, which is sounds like it’s playing in a busy restaurant halfway through.
The ninth song on the record ‘Singalong’ is a grungy, hard-rock track. The mood of the song, its tonality and lyrics make it feel like the darkest song on the album. The drums and guitars crash throughout, with slow vocals slow vocals found low in the mix. Two different guitar solos are layered in the mix on the bridge, highlighting a dark dissonance that’s present in the track.
The closer, ‘Touch The Sun’ is a calm, neat bookend to the emotional rollercoaster the album took the listener on. The acoustic guitars and soft rock homage feel very similar to George Harrison’s ‘Here Comes The Sun’, invoking the song’s light mood. The vibrancy beats out the melancholy on this track creating a lovely resonance that echoes long after you’ve finished listening to the album.
All in all, ‘eephus’ by Snap Infraction is a solid debut album that blends soothing pop-rock ballads and head-banging rock anthems. All these to give you a fully realised indie-rock experience.
The Artist
Snap Infraction is an indie rock band based in Philadelphia. The band was formed in 2017 by longtime musical collaborators Steve Karsch (vocals/guitar), Dave Kerr (bass/vocals) and Tony Iannuzzi (drums). The band draws inspiration from their collective influences and is known for their meticulously crafted song structures and their dynamic musicianship.
Listen to Snap Infraction’s album ‘eephus’ on Bandcamp here:
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