A Post-Pandemic Pop-Punk Predecessor to Their Self-Titled EP
No Pressure seemingly emerged out of no where at the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic in late August of 2020 with a self-titled EP that both surprised pop-punk fans & and left them begging for more.
Lead by Parker Cannon (frontman and lead vocalist for The Story So Far) Harry Corrigan (Regulate) & Pat Kennedy (Light Years) the band is described as “Just some friends making music. No Pressure” and make music they did.
2020’s No Pressure EP was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews online from fans of Parker and pop-punk as a whole. Many pointed out the unique fast-paced style of punk and catchy choruses that kept them engaged for multiple listens.
The biggest gripe with the EP was it’s length. With 5 songs that clock in at a runtime just shy of 10 minutes, it only left fans wanting more.
We would have to wait almost a year for a new release which would come on August 6th, 2021 with a single titled “Bed of Nails” but managed to book two tours during the wait that allowed eager fans to see this emerging band live.
Following the single of “Bed of Nails” came one more single in December of 2021 titled “Can’t Forget” which had a noticeably more hardcore tone and even featured screaming vocals at the back half of the track from Sebastian of Regulate.
On May 31st, Parker shared a post to his Instagram announcing a full length self-titled LP from No Pressure that featured a whopping 10 new songs and a respectable runtime of ~23 minutes.
The album starts strong with Lock It Up, a heavy opener that tackles self-doubt and loss with a catchy hook that blends into a tight chorus.
Immediately following is the song Too Far which starts with quick guitar feedback and a hit of punchy drums that quickly keep the album moving. The song seems to talk about regret in the sense of saying things they didn’t mean. This is also one of the shortest songs on the LP at just 1 minute and 10 seconds.
The middle of this album is where I felt the most substance in regards to song writing and the band’s impeccable flow starts to shine the brightest.
The next couple of songs are longer and have a lot more to dive into lyrically. Hand in Hand & Both Sides simultaneously end the tone of the first half of the album, and show a preview of how this album will end in the latter half.
One Way Trip specifically has the weakest chorus in the album for me personally but is still very enjoyable. The song details struggles of not being able to let go. Seemingly referencing Parker’s late father, who passed away in 2021.
Big Man is one of the LP’s two explicit tracks and has a notably faster tempo. The track seems to be about calling someone out. Referencing a “big man” but “we see a clown” with lyrics that match its faster tempo.
The closing track Save Your Spot is a pop-punk banger that wouldn’t feel out of the ordinary on a Yellowcard album. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a lot of peoples favorite track. It tackles obsession of some kind. Something that is repeated in the chorus. All in all, it’s a great track to end a near-perfect LP.
No Pressure’s EP was in constant rotation for me during the pandemic. Their unique and harder approach to pop-punk helps to solidify them as a band and continues to excel in a genre that desperately needed some new life pumped into it.
This LP has very little shortcomings, if any, and because of that it is a perfect 10.
Thank you for reading.
Just Some Words 