Cascade Riot strut an infectious blend of punk, rock, and pop throughout their Life on Venus EP, released today. The Detroit-based quartet formed in 2015 as a trio, and became a four-piece late last year, upon the addition of guitarist Nick Maston. Their excitable, hooky punk-rock production on the EP complements lyrical themes centered on emotional and personal struggles — including alienation, the desire for change, hope, loneliness, and challenges in communication.
“P.N.C.” opens the EP with an immediate blast of energy, contemplating the struggles of motivation when one feels lost. “I’m just hanging out,” soaring vocals exude alongside crunchy guitar energy, conveying a sense of nowhere to go — though with a sort of breezy confidence that aligns well with the infectious rock flow. “Cobwebs” follows with more guitar-fronted immediacy, feeling like a proper response to the apathy of “P.N.C.” by expressing a hope to re-ignite one’s life, admitting “these cobwebs are growing bigger every day,” with a hope that it’s not too late to change.
“Chasing Stars” is a moving centerpiece, particularly as clamoring guitars and excitable percussion approach the one-minute turn; the momentum is palpable. “Lying all alone inside my bed,” the vocals let out with striking clarity. “Looking for a way outside my head.” A yearning for something new — or someone new — resonates alongside the crisp rock resonance. Insomniac anthem “I Don’t Want to Fall Asleep” follows in quality form as well, while “Wall” closes the EP with an excitable punk-heavy pulse. The Life on Venus EP is a surefire rock success from Cascade Riot.
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“Chasing Stars” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
