On the Boston pop-punk band Quiet Like A Thief’s debut EP, Through the Looking Glass, the band has the charm of the golden era of pop-punk, with a few unique twists to modernize their sound for the next generation of this genre’s fans. Led by vocalist Alex Kouvaris, his vocal delivery on this breezy set of songs feels like putting on that favorite t-shirt that you’ve always adored and still brings the same comfort. Quiet Like a Thief is rounded out by bassist Ryan Sweeney, the dual-guitar attack of Nick Lopardo and Mike Marziliano, and drummer Dan Marchelewski. This debut is a nice love letter to the bands who inspired their charming pop-punk sound, while still staying true to what made them the people they are today. The EP was produced by Four Year Strong’s Alan Day, and he’s able to bring out the best in this band that comes shining through the speakers.
The EP starts off with the reflective “Quantum” that is reminiscent to the Hit The Lights Skip School, Start Fights opener, “Count It!” The first single, “Travel In Time” quickly follows the short opener and showcases what Quiet Like A Thief is best at: crisp hooks, upbeat melodies, and ear-pleasing pop-punk. The song fits the cover art nicely, as Kouvaris sings about feeling like he’s traveling through time and trying keeping his head on straight through all the craziness.
”Weird, But True” showcases more of the benefits of having two guitarists in the band, as both Lopardo and Marziliano complement each other’s riffs with some unique parts to balance out what’s going on in the vocals. The Hit The Lights comparisons become even more prevalent in “Downward Spiral” that features Nick Thompson on guest vocals to bring some more punch to each of the harmonies.
The EP ends with “Scatterbrain,” as vocalist Alex Kouvaris lets us in to his headspace as he tries to navigate the next steps forward. The drumming from Marchelewski is incredibly underrated throughout not only this song, but the entire EP. Overall, Quiet Like A Thief should be one of those bands that will continue to get better over time, especially as more and more artists get back on the road to test out their material in front of live crowds. While they don’t cover a ton of new ground in this ultra-short pop-punk record, there’s plenty to enjoy and love on Through The Looking Glass.