Liars is not going to set new standards for punk rock but with its proudly romping pop punk veined with spicy essences of power pop, the latest EP from Dutch rockers Call It Off is certainly a refreshingly enjoyable encounter. It brings five easily accessible tracks to the ears, songs giving feet and voices an invigorated work out through anthemic urgency and melodic infectiousness. Liars may not drive you to a rooftop to roar about its creators, besides you will be too busy dancing, but it easily ignites an eager appetite and attention for the Eindhoven quartet.
Barely a year old, Call It Off are four musicians who unite with plenty of experience earned playing in different bands over previous years. Pulled together by a mutual love of punk rock, chatting leading to actually writing music together and subsequently the birth of the band last September, the foursome of vocalists/guitarists Maurice Bolier and Adrian DeLange, bassist Lesley Klaverdijk, and drummer Sergei Christian made their first mark with debut EP Lovers late 2013. A clean strike across the bows of attention, the release made a good base from which Liars has confidently moved the band’s songwriting and sound on. Its songs are short and punchy but come with a fluidity and swagger which capture ears and imagination like returning friends, the band’s influences an open colour across the release it is fair to say.
Those inspirations are unavoidable from the first moments of opener Famous Last Words, potent spicery of Green Day and Blink 182 a clear flavouring though there is plenty more to the songs than a cloning of past protagonists. 
From its first swipe of rhythms and riffs, from which a teasing melodic tendril wakes ears potently, the song strolls with melodies swinging from sturdy rhythms and jangling riffs aligned to appealing vocals. The first song also holds a rawer edge like a mix of Story Of The Year and NOFX, though this only glances over the rich melodic and sonic enterprise rippling within the highly pleasing opener.
The strong start is soon shown a pair of heels by the excellent Burning Bridges. From its first roar the song roams the awakened appetite with again jangle clad riffs and a great coaxing of power pop harmonies, the track potently contagious from its first breath. The dual vocals work even better on the second track whilst the moody bass tone delivered by Klaverdijk comes with a shadowed mischief to alone entrance the imagination. That Green Day reference is even stronger here but adds to the instant connection of the song, its simple but expressive invitation impossible to resist adding your own personal attributes, or in some of our cases, disasters to.
Stuck With You has a slightly more reserved urgency yet still rocks like a hound in heat with infection soaked hooks and melodies. That strong whiff of Billie Joe Armstrong and co continues to brew a strong yet captivating smell whilst there are moments where the song offers small tinges of Hagfish to its sharp hooks and underlying rhythmic antagonism. As all the songs it is like an old returning friend more than a new encounter, a feeling which stops the track leaving thoughts awe struck but undoubtedly has them riveted and fully involved in its raucous revelry, a lure just as addictive in the stomp that is I Don’t Wanna. As anthemic as you can get, the track simply provokes the passions and body from start to finish, providing a punk bred festival of adrenaline and passion.
The EP closes with Call Me, a track with wandering melodic adventure and emotive textures. Driven by a spine of firm rhythms aligned to a throaty bassline, the song flirts with ears through evocative enterprise from the guitars and the fine blend of vocals as it sways and rolls across the ears with arguably a more adventurous seduction than found of the other tracks. It makes for a fine end to a thoroughly enjoyable encounter.
As mentioned, Liars is not quite a release to set punk rock on fire but it definitely nudges it firmly to the presence and rich potential of Call It Off.
The Liars EP is available now via White Russian Records @ http://callitoff.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/callitoffNL
8/10
RingMaster 18/07/2014
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