I’d like to introduce everyone to a great Alternative rock band called Arcane Ghosts. On their latest EP, called Distant Youth, they capture the spirit of the glory days of the pop-punk genre, all paired with breakneck hooks, impeccable band chemistry, and pop sensibilities to make sure these five songs stick in your head for days on end. The band is comprised of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jason Diaz, Steven Wolwyn on bass and backing vocals, and drummer Eric Mitz. With a sound that fits somewhere between Midtown, The Starting Line, and The Early November, Arcane Ghosts could very well be the next exciting band to take this scene by storm.
The EP opens with a steady beat found on “Rollercoaster,” that features some great guitar riffs by Diaz to layer the instrumentation into a crowd-pleasing package. Wolwyn adds some nice vocal harmonies in the chorus to build out the sound that Arcane Ghosts were going for on this raucous opener. “In The Blue” follows with some frenetic energy, and drummer Eric Mitz keeps everything paced appropriately as the band kicks into a new gear. The song reminded me a bit of Fenix Tx, all with a twist of Blink-182 personality to keep things advancing in a logical pattern.
”Paralyzed” begins with a gorgeous guitar riff that sets the tone for the mid-tempo song that ended up being my favorite track on the set. The band gradually builds up to a great sing-a-long chorus that brings the listener into the core of what Arcane Ghosts such a nice blast of pop-punk nostalgia. “Butterfly” puts the listener into a great mood with its steady guitar riffing, paired with energetic vocals from Diaz to keep the EP from losing its early momentum gained. By the time you’ve reached the EP closer of “Fever Dreams,” you’re probably left wondering how a band this great could still be un-signed to a recording contract. If the songs they continue to write are as well thought out and tight as the ones found on Distant Youth, this band won’t be undiscovered for very much longer.