Clayton – Escape CD (Disillusioned Records)

I always loved the French punk rock scene. There’s something more to it than music. It always seemed to me that the French bands are taking everything on an entirely new level. Don’t get me wrong, French bands sound the same as bands from any other country, but there is always something more in their music than meets the eye. French bands are somehow enhancing the listening experience through a different kind of ambiance, deliverance, musicianship that creates a unique atmosphere. Clayton is one of those bands that carries a different vibe, and their debut EP is living proof of my statement. Today, I would like to talk about this release a little bit more.

Escape is carrying six powerful punk rock compositions, thoughtfully arranged to satisfy even the pickiest admirers of this genre. However, the group also involves smaller chunks of pop-punk along the way. Nevertheless, don’t be fooled by these explorations into pop-punk because Clayton incorporates this element in a sophisticated manner. The group solely relies upon classic chord progressions, melodic themes, singalongish choruses, and moderate rhythmic maneuvers. The guitars are fighting for dominance by dueling through robust riffages and octave leads, but somehow they’ve bounded altogether in harmony. The rhythm section keeps everything in line through warm-sounding basslines and solid drumming. Just like the guitars, vocals are also dueling, and each composition carries more than one vocal channel.

Still, Clayton sounds completely unconventional, mainly because of the subtly fuzzy guitars and nearly abrasive production. The group levitates between ear-appealing melodic structures and unpolished production during the entire album, and I must admit this formula goes perfectly with the aesthetics of the band. Perhaps it strays from contemporary trends in music production, but it also showcases another side of melodic punk rock. Because of that, Escape resembles something that would Face To Face, Hot Water Music, Leatherface, Samiam, Seaweed, Autopilot Off, and many other bands that emerged during the nineties eventually record throughout their careers. It’s a perfectly balanced material that continuously floats between melodic punk rock and pop-punk sound but spiced up with abrasive production that showcases the aggressive side of the group.

Clayton demonstrates how melodic punk rock can sound amazing without loads of cash spent on expensive production and mastering. They solely relied upon their ideas, skills, and music abilities to produce a solid debut that will undoubtfully suit every fan of melodic punk rock. Escape comes on a compact disc accompanied by meaningful artwork. Head over to Disillusioned Records for more detailed information about ordering this gem.