An introductory look at hardcore pop-punkers, A Day To Remember.

Look up A Day To Remember on www.wikipedia.com and it will say: “Their music combines fast and heavy rhythms with dramatic poppy singing and deep throated, hardcore-style growls. They draw influences from pop punk, hardcore, and popcore, creating a sound best described as ‘pop-mosh’.

Still not sure what pop-mosh is? Tap into Floridian quintet’s latest album for Victory Records, ‘For Those Who Have Heart’ and you’ll find out: contagious melodic hardcore with huge post-hardcore vocal lines and metalcore-esque breakdowns and growling. One minute you’re bouncing and singing along to a pop punk chorus, the next you’re windmilling like a dutchman.

“Pop mosh is definitely a good description,” admits ADTR bassist, Josh ??? before quickly adding: “But it’s not like we call ourselves that, it’s other people giving us the label – but we don’t mind it. Those are our influences; and it’s obvious when you listen to the record. We do try to meld those two extremes: pop melodies and moshy parts. So yeah, pop-mosh work for us.”

So how did it all come about?

“A Day To Remember really started when I joined in 2003,” explains Josh. “They’d only been a band for maybe two months before that. My first show with thegroup – in fact in any group – was a battle of the bands. 350 kids came down, loved the show, and we won the contest.”

Their initial triumph was setting a precedent. Not long after this, Indianola Records picked up the five-piece for their debut album, ‘And Their Name Was Treason’, released in 2005 to great acclaim. Following the album’s success, US indie, Victory Records picked up the act for their second album, ‘For Those Who Have Heart’ released early this year.

So why did Victory Records sign you and not another band like you?

“Victory signed us because – as far as I’ve heard – no one sounds like us,” says josh frankly. “It’s obvious that there are bands that scream, bands that sing, and bands that do both – so we’re not unique in that way. But no one does pop punk with fast melodies and hooks like old New Found Glory stuff, mixed with mosh stuff like Bury Your Dead. Except us. We’re pop punk kids who listen to hardcore.”

“I’m not saying we’re some groundbreaking band that’s going to change music forever, we just have fun with it and it seems to work.”

Before ringing off, Josh assures us that if the guys don’t make it to the UK for August or September, they will definitely be over early in 2008.