Fade Chromatic fails to break new ground with debut EP

By: Colin Rabyniuk –

Pop rock is a hard genre to do right by. People say that writing a catchy hook is one of the toughest things to do in music.  That’s easy to believe after listening to bands who are trying to be like Simple Plan or Maroon 5.

Toronto’s Fade Chromatic is another of those bands. Their new self-titled EP is a middling first entry into the fray.

They are a young band, and while musically tight, their songs lack much dynamic range or change in tempo. The EP mulls along, keeping to territory explored often in the last decade.

In many ways, Fade Chromatic sounds like an early version of Anberlin, especially singer Jordan Abrams. His voice has a similar tone and range to Anberlin’s frontman Stephen Christian.

Guitarist Sean Messenger carries the band. They are at the best on tracks like Disguised and Another Sunrise, when Messenger’s guitar comes to the fore.

The final song, Another Sunrise, is the strongest of the bunch. It’s the one truly catchy track. It ends with a pleasant and unexpected verse featuring a slowed down, almost-alt-country riff.

The production on the EP is a low point. It sounds at times muddy and unclear. Sometimes that is the desired effect, though usually not with a band like this.

Ultimately, Fade Chromatic’s debut EP is not something you need to hear. The foundation is there that perhaps in a few years something great could arise, but, unless you’re friends or family of the band, feel free to sleep on this for now.