Introduction
Hailing from Dunfermline, Scotland, Stay For Tomorrow are an energetic alt-rock four-piece looking to make their definitive mark with their latest record. Formed in 2018, the band has spent years grinding through iconic venues like King Tuts and major Scottish festivals.
While they position themselves as a standard alt-rock group, their true superpower lies in a vibrant, highly infectious pop-punk foundation. Think the nostalgic, driving vocal flows of Fall Out Boy or New Found Glory, but proudly injected with thick synth-bass textures and brilliant, unmasked Scottish accents. The result is a sonic rollercoaster: an album that boasts anthems alongside a few frustrating structural stumbles. Read the full review below.
Review
This album offers up an alt-rock/ Pop-Punk fusion that lives and breathes thanks to the high energy that the band put in. It honestly shines brightest when it embraces that raw identity.
The biggest win of the entire record is in its varied instrumentation and bold vocal character. When they lean into their pop-punk style (Think New Found Glory) lead by excellent guitar riffs and Scottish accents then they hit a really spectacular groove. This formula comes out in songs like Restart and also in Pick Me Up. The latter also shows off excellent riffs, a deep broody bassline and masses upon masses of attitude.
The band also excels at pairing the energy with addictive vocal hooks. This is best heard on Crushing Down with the words having a distinct Fall Out Boy like quality to them. Not to mention pounding drums that make this a total anthem.
No record is without it’s stumbles and this album is no different in that regard. The track list is simply far too long, they should have aimed for around the 10 track mark. Cutting the two filler tracks would immediately help with that and stopped the momentum being halted. There are a few songs too that I feel are not the strongest lyrically or in vocal flow like Erase me where the chorus is great but the verses are the opposite. Finally I loved the softer side to Breathe and it would have been a real highlight if not for the complete change up musically half way through.
Thankfully the band closes on a real high note with The Fallout. An incredibly strong, fast paced lyrical powerhouse that is position perfectly. Overall this is a solid album though and I don’t want my criticisms above to detract from that. Hearing real accents is something I love and the band really are doing some fun things!
71/100
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