A Loss For Words

While they claim to be in the vein of Four Year Strong and Set Your Goals, A Loss For Words actually shine where others fall behind. Their pop punk boasts a notably heavier side, and while I wouldn't call it post-punk it does have more of an edge and energy than their colleagues. Their debut LP, The Kids Can't Lose, does a grand job capturing the essence of this Massachusetts band. Tracks like "Half-Step Down" and "Stamp of Approval" possess a youthful intensity without sounding like whiny teenagers. The guitar lines are thick and slick, at times showcasing metal influences. "Mt. St. Joseph" is reminiscent of their acoustic Webster Lake EP. Like many of the songs, the lyrical content is quite dark and introspective. "It was too damn hard to watch as heaven and hell held you down like anchors," vocalist Matt Arsenault sings through his teeth, spitting words of gothic poetry. AL4W should reconsider likening themselves to such lacklustre scene music because they rise well above it.