Fearless Records are back with a new Punk Goes Pop volume 7 (out July 14 via the label). Having previously featured the likes of Pierce The Veil, Rise Against, Asking Alexandria and Sleeping With Sirens amongst many more, it’s exciting to hear the new crop of acts chosen to cover some of the current pop hits.
Opening the compilation is State Champs with their version of Shawn Mendes’ Stitches. It’s catchy and the vocals work well. A very good choice of cover for the pop punks. The first track to be released from the record was Dance Gavin Dance’s version of Bru’s That’s What I Like, it’s catchy and has some good guitar work. The change between harsh screams and melodic cleans works well.
Kehlani’s Gangsta gets a New Years Day rework and while it’s really weird to hear Ash do a more dancey track, it weirdly works well. It stays true to the track, however adding a more punk vibe with heavier drums. Can’t Feel My Face gets a revamp courtesy of The Amity Affliction and was recently revealed with a zombie based video. While I’ve never heard the original by The Weeknd, this version is one that I’d admittedly stick on and play on repeat. Andy Black teams up with wife Juliet Simms for a rendition of Adele’s When We Were Young. This is quite an odd thing to hear someone with a distinct low voice like Andy covering an artist that is usually more high pitched but his dulcet tones lull you to sleep in the ballad. Juliet’s vocals add a touch of the original track and when they harmonise, it sounds great!
I’ve made it clear how I am not a fan of Justin Bieber or his songs, although I have been known to tolerate (and even like) some covers of them, so I was prepared to give Grayscale’s version of Love Yourself a go (although it is one of his most recent tracks that I actually really despise). Grayscale actually do a very good version of the track, although it’s just not for me (nothing to do with the band’s version, it’s just I’ve never liked and will most likely never like the track in any form). Fake Love by Drake gets a hardcore makeover from Capsize, it’s catchy and I enjoyed it.
Boston Manor take us into a trance with a version of Twenty One Pilots’ Heathens. It’s quite similar in parts to the original, although with a track as great as the original, that’s not surprising. The dual vocals work well together and the harsher vocals add something that was definitely missing in the original. The instrumentation is also altered slightly to give it a Boston Manor feel. Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran gets yet another rework, this time by Australian alt-rockers Eat Your Heart Out. This track is probably one of the most covered tracks of the year which can get quite boring, however, the vocals add a refreshing twist with Caitlin Henry keeping her Australian accent and also just purely for the fact there are female vocals, making a change from the countless male cover versions. I also have to say the song really suits her voice and the rockier instrumentation shows how the band have put their own spin on the track, while still keeping it close to the original.
A major curveball is thrown in with US metalcorers The Plot In You going melodic and acoustic with James Bay’s Let It Go. The melodic vocals sound great and the harsher cleans in parts, add more emotion. The track almost (repeat almost) made my face leak. Ice Nine Kills are up next with a cover of I Don’t Wanna Live Forever originally by Zayn and Taylor Swift, two more artists who I cannot stand. The band have previously covered Maroon 5 for the compilation series and also Adele on one of their Eps so I had a feeling this cover would be good and I was right. The opening sounds nothing like you would expect for Ice Nine Kills but as the track kicks in, the super melodic vocals from frontman Spencer Charnas and the triple screams from Spencer, guitarist/vocalist JD DeBlieck and bassist Justin Morrow put a classic INK spin on the track.
The Chainsmokers ft Halsey Closer was actually just made for Seaway. There isn’t a lot to say other than that this cover is perfection. I’ve never actually listened to the original but who needs to when this exists. The final track on the record is Too Close To Touch’s version of In The Name Of Love by Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha and it’s melodic and shows off Keaton’s vocals.
Each track on the compilation was chosen well to suit the artists both vocally and musically and the covers are pretty great! I think this may just be my favourite of all the Punk Goes series so far!