As It Is – Never Happy, Ever After

As It Is – Never Happy, Ever After
Review by Annette Hansen

In a scene that is currently saturated with pop punk bands it’s rare to find a band that stands out in the growing crowd. Armed with their debut full-length album Never Happy, Ever After and offering the perfect blend of angst and melody, new comers, As It Is, shine like a beacon. Jumping right into things with opening track “Speak Soft” As It is catapults listeners into a surge of high energy and unforgettable catchiness. The album continues to not hold back on the following songs “Cheap Shots & Setbacks” and “Sorry.” As “Drowning Deep in Doubt” starts up, the album takes a turn for the more mellow. This is one of three slower tracks on the album, albeit the weakest and probably the weakest song on the whole album. While the verses on the track sparkle with beautiful melodies the chorus fails to hold the same amount of intrigue. The other two slower tracks are amongst the stronger songs of the record. “My Lakes Were Oceans” draws you in with is soft tone and relatable lyrics and crescendos into a chorus of voices that will have you singing along in harmony, and “You the Room & the Devil on Your Shoulder” is just so quiet and haunting. Where Never Happy, Ever After really shines is on its true-blue pop punk tracks like “Dial Tones”, “Concrete” and “Turn Back to Me.” As It Is gives all the grit and angst that is a trademark of modern pop punk but they never shy away from being melodic and catchy giving the album a feel that is both fresh and wonderfully nostalgic. Whether you’re a fan of vocalist Patty Walters’s YouTube channel or you are just looking for a great new band to get into, the band’s first full-length is worth the listen. As It Is is off to a great start with this debut.