Review / 200 Words Or Less
The Wonder Years / All or Nothing
Distances

No Sleep (2009) Michael

The Wonder Years / All or Nothing – Distances cover artwork
The Wonder Years / All or Nothing – Distances — No Sleep, 2009

The glorious split 7" - how I love thee. What's this? Two bands from opposite sides of the Atlantic? Even better! There is something strangely comforting in knowing that two bands that are separated by thousands of miles of ocean can found a place together on a slim piece of wax.

The Wonder Years return with two brand new songs. Picking up where they left off on their previous 7", The Wonder Years continue to fuse upbeat pop-punk and melodic hardcore into one. They band's songwriting continues to improve, finally finding a way to incorporate those 80's snyths/keys in a fashion that isn't obnoxious. This is their best stuff to date and I feel their next full-length is the release to break things open.

All or Nothing is new to me, but sometimes new is good. These British rockers unleash two songs of fast-paced melodic hardcore in the vein of Reach the Sky, but with a bit more melody in the vocal delivery. The music is fun and the vocals are quite enamoring. Overall, this is quality music with lots of potential. Check it out if you can't wait for the new Strike Anywhere any longer...

Two young bands show signs of great things to come on this split 7". If you appreciate pop-punk or melodic hardcore you should invest in a copy of Distances.

7.5 / 10Michael • March 18, 2009

The Wonder Years / All or Nothing – Distances cover artwork
The Wonder Years / All or Nothing – Distances — No Sleep, 2009

Related news

The Wonder Years / All Or Nothing Split Pre-Orders

Posted in Records on February 4, 2009

The Wonder Years / All Or Nothing Split

Posted in Records on December 28, 2008

Recently-posted album reviews

Circuit des Yeux

Halo On The Inside
Matador (2025)

Haley Fohr's artistic vehicle, Circuit des Yeux, defies categorisation. Stamping the indie folk label on her was superficial, something dispelled easily once you have experienced the lo-fi distortion of "The Girl With No Name." It might be that under the layers of sonic disfigurement, a folk ethos is present in Fohr's narrative sensibility, but it is no longer the same. … Read more

ZEPHR

Past Lives
Dumb Ghost, Snappy Little Numbers (2025)

Sometimes you can just hear the passion in a voice. ZEPHR is one of those bands. They defy convention a little bit, in that I associate gravelly voices with harsher, heavier sounds, but ZEPHR use sore-throat vocals to great effect with midtempo, emotional and melodic 3-chord chugging punk rock and some DC sound. In few words, it's raw, both musically … Read more

Kreiviskai

Motinai
Infinite Fog Productions (2025)

Kreiviskai's origins are deeply rooted in the neofolk sound and ethos. Their debut record, Zemmis : supnãi, focuses on the musical lineage of Tver, embracing the traditional instrumentation to produce a somber and moving piece. Their follow-up record, Nonregnum expands outward, focusing on various historical events and introducing further influences. The pull of neo-classical is palpable, while the abrasive industrial … Read more