Review
ACTIONS! – DEVIL’S WORDS
Released 2nd December 2011
Words: Gaz Martinez
A thumping drum fill, and Devil’s Words is off and bounces along rather nicely, much like your everyday pop punk jingle, following the established song structure almost to the tee. The opening riff is easy to remember and jump to while the clean sections of the verse make for pleasant listening.
The thing that sticks out most is Emily Cracknell’s vocals. Being a female fronted pop punk band, anybody seeing Actions! Would be inclined to think Paramore! But upon hearing Devil’s Words, the same people should know that Emily’s style is quite different from the likes of Hayley Williams. Cracknell seems to know she has a decent high range, and is not afraid to use it throughout most of the song.
The drums also deserve an honourable mention, keeping the beat loud and strong, but dynamic enough to not turn stale and fade into the background with the rest of the music, it sounds as if the drums are battling the vocals for the top spot in the mix, prepared to use the tambourine to its full potential, while the guitars and bass are content enough to give the song its foundation for the drums and vocals to build upon, maybe a bit too much like Paramore to make Actions! Stand out in the scene with a sound to call their own.
