When a band features members of Lagwagon and Good Riddance you are going to have pre-conceived notions about the overall sound. Versus The World is the more mature version of whatever you are thinking. Yes it’s still punk rock, so don’t worry about that. Unlike the wave of recent older pop punkers who go country western, these guys stick with their punk rock roots. The tracks right from the album opener “Frank Sinatra” starts with a tempo that gives the tracks more of a hard rock feel and less of the hyperactive feel of their former bands and that continues all the way through to "The Miserable" without waivering. This is a good thing. The tracks breathe a little more. However don’t worry there is still an intense driving beat in every track and plenty of half time break downs. The production is slick and helps a more fully realized vision come to light that in my eyes far surpasses some of the Fat Wreck stuff both bands did.
Of the album, singer Donald Spence says, "I can’t tell you how much work went into this collection of songs.I’d always been taught that if what you were working on wasn’t (what you thought) was your best... start over. Never put anything into the world that you were not absolutely sure of."
This album almost defines post-punk, this is where pop punk bands should all graduate to. Both bands Good Riddance and Lagwagon helped to define pop punk and now with songs like “Looking For An Exit” these songwriters show they are more than a one trick pony. It’s no wonder the album has such bite to it as it was produced by Cameron Webb known for working with Motorhead and Megadeth. What else can I say about Versus The World except they are ready to go on tour take on the audiences world wide to show an astounding amount of growth and maturity in their musical compositions.
West Coast Shows:
June 16 - Long Beach @ Supply and Demand w/ Mercy Music and Love Equals Death
June 17 - Los Angeles @ Permanent Records Roadhouse w/ Mercy Music and Love Equals Death
July 7 - Portland @ Dante’s w/ Diesel Boy
July 8 - Seattle @ El Corazon w/ Diesel Boy
Versus The World will be on tour in Europe this summer.
28.07. Berlin @ Wild At Heart
29.07. Hohenstaufen @ Vert Rock w/ Urethane
30.07. tbc
01.08. Erfurt @ Tiko w/ Urethane
02.08. Brussels @ Le Lac
03.08. Wermelskirchen @ AJZ w/ Authority Zero & Cigar
04.08. tbc
05.08. Duffel, B @ Brakrock
06.08. Düsseldorf, D @ Pitcher w/ Diesel Boy
08.08. Stuttgart @ Im Wizemann w/ Pennywise
09.08. Vienna, AUT @ Rhiz w/ Diesel Boy
10.08. Tolmin, SLO @ Punkrock Holiday
11.08. Bologna, ITA @ Freakout Club
12.08. Rimini, ITA @ Bayfest
