PROMISE ME TOMORROW

 

“Angst is a common theme amongst punk rock acts. The genre’s a perfect vessel into which the torment of a million and one matters of the heart and dissatisfactions with the wider world can be poured. You’ll find it in the soul searching Autumn Few’s “Lines” and “Never Noticed Me”.

Even when the music is stripped back, bereft of the pounding drums and thrashing guitars, the genre throws up portraits of bitterness and sorrow, as ably demonstrated by the contribution of Mikee J Reds’ (of Call Off The Search fame) on the “Countrysides” EP.

Now, we can add another band to the already extensive list of players in Kent who produce heart on their sleeve punk rock music. Promise Me Tomorrow are a thrashy punk rock band, charting similar – though slightly poppier – waters to the above artists.

“You Haven’t Seen the Best of Me” starts off with a Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ‘69” kind of introduction before immersing itself in the more contemporary punk-rock sound.

“Knock Backs and Heart Attacks”, the B-side, is a gentler affair with acoustic guitars and close harmonies at its centre. Its mournful and slower, but still resolutely part of the US punk rock school. It’s the song that could easily soundtrack a poignant moment on an episode of “90210C Creek Hill”.

Both songs tackle the theme of love and heartbreak. Interestingly, both “You Haven’t Seen…” and “Knock Backs…” are preoccupied with a fear of failure. “If I let you down tonight/I promise you I’ll make it right” runs the lyric of the single’s A-side. The song is filled with a desperation not to lose a relationship of so much value.

It’s a theme repeated in “Knock Backs…” with lines like “take it slow tonight/I don’t want to let you down”. With its quieter, acoustic accompaniment, the raw emotion is allowed to seep through with even more passion.

Both songs represent honest reflections of the male psyche. Stripped of the machismo of many of the band’s punk-rock counterparts, Promise Me Tomorrow approach their song writing with a rawness and openness which comes as a breath of fresh air.

The band have already caught part of the public’s attention with profiles in Kerrang! and national radio airplay. Their single is a catchy, sing along tune with a more than decent B-side. Something of a rarity these days, B-sides.

Of course, I remember the days when you could pop down to Woolies, two quid in your pocket and buy a Space single with an additional five songs/remixes on it and still have change for a penny chew.

Ah, those were the days. I better get going now before I come over all misty eyed.”

 

http://www.facebook.com/promisemetomorrowuk

 

 

 

10/05/2011 • Single Review

By Stephen Morris • Photos by Joseph Watts

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