Review - Tonight Alive - All Shapes and Disguises

Having fallen in love with their debut offering What Are You So Scared Of?, finding their independently release 2010 EP All Shapes and Disguises on Spotify, was something of a result. With the European release of their debut still some way off arriving on these shores, it was the perfect opportunity to catch up on some of their earlier material, with this EP shifting over 20,000 copies since its release (presumably in doing most of that business in their homeland). For an independent record to do figures like that is pretty remarkable, and as a collection, it showcases the absolute best of a band who must surely be set to explode at any given moment.

Tonight Alive have quality songs throughout their arsenal, and All Shapes and Disguises is quite simply hit after hit from start to thrilling finish. At 11 tracks in length, it more accurately resembles an album, rather than just an EP, and each one of the songs on offer are perfectly crafted slabs of female fronted pop punk.

It just doesn’t get much better than this. Perky, upbeat and brimming with massive hooks and choruses, it is a very special collection indeed. The band are on fire throughout, and frontwoman Jenna McDougall puts in a great shift on vocals once more.

I could literally list every single track as a highlight, but the likes of 5 Years, the demo version of To Die For, Invincible, Wasting Away, Closer, My Favourite Thing and Ten Times Better are all fantastic. Arguably the best track of the bunch is Rooftop To The Street, with an incredibly infectious chorus that hits you hard from the very moment you first listen, and refuses to let you go. It is a stunning track, and three and a half minutes of pure, unadulterated pop punk perfection.

That is the beauty of Tonight Alive. Everywhere you look, there are phenomenal songs, great choruses, bouncing melodies and enough star quality to prove just why they are the next big thing. They are undoubtedly one of the most exciting new bands of the year, and the sky is the limit at this stage. Paramore could have real contenders in this bunch, and healthy competition is only a good thing for the scene.  

Something very special is brewing. It’s about time they got the recognition their songs deserve. We will be hearing a LOT more about these Australian upstarts as the year goes on.

10/10 – can I give an 11/10?? It’s THAT damn good.