Stand Off – Beneath The Surface Of Awareness
(Chimaeric)

I don’t know too much about the history of this Niagara Falls band, but I do know that there was a point at which they decided to get a little more serious about their music, and they moved from being basically a pop-punk cover band to being a pop-punk band who wrote their own songs. What really made me take notice of them, was the fact that their original songs were good. Very good.

They have a sound comparable to melodic punk bands like Lagwagon and Ten Foot Pole, but they avoid being completely derivative.They released a 4 song demo tape a year or two ago, and I listened to it non-stop. It had melodic singing, crunchy layered guitar parts, and tight drumming. Even though some of the lyrics were pretty cheesy, they didn’t sound cheesy, because the music backed them up so well. And even though it was their first real demo, something about it sounded very mature, because the songs were well-written.

Needless to say, I was pretty desperate to hear a full length cd from these guys. So here it is, the new album: Beneath The Surface Of Awareness, just recently released with little to no fanfare.

There are 12 songs on the disc, 4 of which are the same recordings from their demo tape. In my mind, none of the newer songs quite match the perfection of the original 4 demos, but many come close. Some of the newer songs take a slightly less energetic approach, but they still have poppy hooks that draw you in. “Waiting For You”, “Reason For Concern” and “Close To The End (Allison)”, (the latter of which appeared on the SCENE 2000 compilation), are all solid songs that have a way of weaving themselves into your head after only one listen. The harmonizing vocals work surprisingly well, and the drumming is still precise and creative.

Of course, they couldn’t resist throwing a cover song on the album, and they did a nice job with Bon Jovi’s classic rock ballad “Always”, turning it into a fast paced sing-along, while still having fun with the cheese factor.

The only complaint I have about this album is that the production sounds wimpy and tinny for the most part. However, being from the Niagara Region I know that good (and cheap) recordings are not easy to come by, and I can’t really hold it against them. Still, it’s frustrating because I know this album could sound much better.

Stand Off are an excellent band that no one seems to know about.It’s too bad these guys don’t seem to have the drive or the means to get their name out there, because I really think they have the potential to go somewhere. They may not be the most original sounding band, but they certainly know how to play, and this is easily one of the best albums I’ve ever heard emerge from the Niagara Region. Do yourself a favour and check them out. — Sean