Me Vs Hero - This one's for our friend (Reissue EP)

Me Vs Hero, young band from Blackpool, England are reissuing their 2007 debut EP (which was self-titled at first) after a new recording of all the songs and the addition of an acoustic track. The record is said to be released as a tribute to their former guitarist Alex McCulloch who died in August 2008.

From the very first lines of this EP, you know what to expect: "Let's go / Turn up your stereo / Blow these speakers out / Move your feet / Tear these walls down"... Me Vs Hero are the British version of those scads of pop-punk bands trying to be the next Four Year Strong by incorporating a few hardcore elements to their sound. Just like a lot of their American peers, they've listened to the latter band way too much, the result being that they sound more like an uninspired and pale copy. The lyrics are terribly weak and pointless, mostly related to being in a band and creating beatdowns (the UK equivalent of "breakdowns"). The vocals aren't bad but the whole lot of gang vocals and screams are way too cliche to be enjoyable. You won't be surprised to find growled "Oh!" to introduce the breakdowns and a fair share of double bass. Speaking of breakdowns, they aren't much better. The band has such an obvious obsession with making the kids mosh that it sounds forced. They're either empty ('Hey Elzar, take it up another notch with the spice weasel. BAM!') or disorganized ('Upbeat (Down)'). Yeah, even the titles are ridiculous rip-offs from Four Year Strong.

The whole EP isn't unpleasing and those new versions of the songs make them more energetic, but nothing on it is memorable. Me Vs Hero are just trying too hard. They have potential, so they should try to make a more personal and honest music.

3/5

Recommanded if you like:
Four Year Strong, A Loss For Words, The Wonder Years
Check also:
Take Notice, Fight Fair, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!

www.myspace.com/mevshero
(Self-released, 2009)