Review: Set It Off - Calm Before the Storm

ARTIST: Set It Off
ALBUM: Calm Before the Storm - EP
RELEASED: 5/8/09
LABEL: Currently Unsigned


First off, it shouldn't be news to anyone with their eyes open that most of today's pop-punk generally has only one voice (instrumentally speaking). Therefore, it's really up to the individual listeners to choose who to support based not so much on a band's musical originality, but their creativity in lyricism, personalities, live show quality, etc.


Now, not personally having much experience with Set It Off other than their newest release, Calm Before the Storm, the easy way out is to just say they sound identical to All Time Low with a different singer. And they might be just fine with that. In fact, vocalist and frontman Cody Carson originally began as an All Time Low cover singer on a YouTube channel he set up for that purpose. Also, according the the band, he has performed live with ATL with permission from Alex Gaskarth himself, again from a YouTube post. Ain't social networking grand?


Set It Off seem to be just another fun, dance party band. This could be a turnoff to some, and quite the opposite for others. I think, though, with the current climate of that particular music scene, Calm will be very well received.


My best advice is this: anyone who is very into bands of the same breed as ATL, Forever the Sickest Kids, etc., go listen to this thing for yourself. The phrase to sum the EP up from my end is "likeable, but unoriginal." But to be fair, I haven't seen their live show, and I hate to judge a band without that experience. And since they'll be touring various cities in the midwest at the end of May and several of the southeastern states through June, someone should definitely go see them and let me know what goes down. My email is on the staff page.

Written By: Spencer C.