The Waiting Game – Underneath The Surface 12″ EP (Bearded Punk Records)

I was unaware of the existence of this band until I stumbled upon their website by accident. It was one of those pleasant surprises I didn’t expect at the moment, mainly because I expected something completely different judging by the visual identity of their website. I expected an alternative rock group but got more of an indie pop-punk in return, which turned out to be one of the overwhelming experiences. The Waiting Game is a Belgian indie quintet that has a lot to offer to the broader auditorium, mainly because of the exceptional ideas and specific atmospheric vibe. Today, I would like to talk a bit further about their 12″ EP record.

Underneath The Surface carries seven indie-infused pop-punk numbers, released on 12″ record a couple of years ago by Bearded Punk Records. Knowing the aesthetics of Bearded Punk releases, Underneath The Surface differs from the greater portion of the label’s roster. This particular material delivers a more melancholic ambiance through carefully arranged tunes, entirely overwhelmed by tremendous guitar works and excellent drumming. The guitars are pulling some entertaining tricks up from the sleeves by infusing longevous, arpeggiated reverby tones. Still, the group measured these maneuvers to perfection, so this material doesn’t intervene with post-rock aesthetics. Quite the contrary, The Waiting Game devotedly follows indie rock aesthetics. Nevertheless, the group builds its foundations around contemporary pop-punk sound, so you will mostly encounter these melodic acrobatics along the way.

You may also stumble upon some aesthetics of contemporary or Midwest emo music on this journey, but The Waiting Game is only giving the hinds of their admiration towards this particular genre. Underneath The Surface stays true to its title. It’s a perfectly layered record that will remind you how much you love melodic punk rock, pop-punk, indie rock, emo, but the group keeps everything measured and balanced to perfection. Each ingredient gives a bit more spice to these compositions, but the actual brilliance of The Waiting Game hides deep down in marvelously executed ideas and exceptional musicianship by the entire band.

Underneath The Surface is available on both vinyl and compact disc at Bearded Punk Records. You will love this material if you’re profoundly into genres like indie rock, melodic punk rock, pop-punk, emo, but this band offers a lot more than just plain and simple musicianship and unquestionably deserves your attention even if you’re not into these genres. Head over to Bearded Punk Records for information about ordering.