The record kicks off with intro track WAKE UP-SIT DOWN-SHUT UP. Stand Atlantic vocalist Bonnie Fraser starts the album off in isolated fashion with a slow beautiful melody in her head voice as she sings “I’m feeling existential, doesn’t even matter at all”. The song is really a good combination of the sounds we’re about to hear throughout this record.
FREAKIN’ OUT kicks off with a subtle ascending synth passage before drummer Jonno Panichi kicks in to set the pace of the tune. The verse is a pretty subtle one, but the rest of band comes in one by one setting up the massive rock chorus that’s about to hit. There’s a lot to unpack here in the layers instrumentally, as guitarist David Potter matches Fraser’s lines but also does some intricate riffing in between to fill the space.
Right after is NOSE BLEED, which has Fraser kicking the track off right away with the powerful chorus as she sings “I’d rather be lonely, hate myself than someone you think about. I’ve got a nose bleed, if you want me dead. Twist the knife while you watch me bleed out”. It’s a powerful moment of the record and those lyrics are going to be stuck in your head. Sueco is featured on this one, his voice on the second verse is a really nice addition to this track.
We also see the band get dark and aggressive with KISSIN’ KILLER COBRAS. Potter kicks off this tune with a catchy riff on the upbeat, which already gets your head bopping. The dynamics on this tune are something I think works really well, the verses having this attitude and sass but the chorus lightens up as Fraser belts out “cause I’m bad to the bone with no way to recover”. This one is going to be insane in a live setting.
Nearing the latter half of the record we have pairing tracks 17 and 17//REPRIZE [ONE TAKE]. Thematically covering themes of being used in an abusive relationship and I think these tunes will resonate with lots of people.
It’s really cool what they did here, with making the first song pretty aggressive and angry, while the REPRIZE is stripped back with just Fraser and her piano. Admittedly, 17 wasn’t my favourite moment here, but REPRIZE is easily one of my stand out moments on the record.
The final tunes outside of the singles are G.A.G (GIRL’S A GUN) and ROCKSTAR, which has that familiar pop punk territory again that the band is known for. Bassist Miki Rich is a massive stand out on these two tunes, as the rest of the band takes step a back in the verse allowing for him to hold the rhythms nicely.
G.A.G is a really nice change of pace as the chorus is a bit more subtle, with Fraser’s lower register as the choice for the main vocal.
ROCKSTAR has a light summer vibe, starting off with some synths and Potter hitting clean chords on the upbeat already making it a song that’s easy to dance to. The chorus sees Fraser flexing her vocal chops as she belts “heaven sent like a big rockstar, ask my friends they don’t know who you are”. This one covering the themes of ego and arrogance.
WAS HERE is another incredible offering to the band’s discography. It’s never an easy feat for a band to follow up such an incredible record, but for Stand Atlantic it was done with such ease.
Providing fans such a different sound while retaining such high quality deserves praise. With an album as long as 15 tracks; it can be difficult to maintain pace, and outside of a song or two, I can say they delivered front to back here.
9/10
WAS HERE is out now on Hopeless Records.