Although they manage to write emo pop songs that wouldn't feel out of place on a
Burning Airlines record,
Autopilot Off brings to mind early-'90s groups like
Bullet La Volta and
Mind Funk. The band has the same kind of metal/emo dynamic of the former with the second-rate alternative feel of the latter, making for a sound that is appealing but really fails to engage. This eponymous EP is a perfect place to notice the shroud of blandness that hangs over the band. The songs feel underdeveloped, with little moments and melodies that feel played out and generic because of the lack of personality shown in the performances. That isn't true of all their material; the closing "Wide Awake" is a driving rocker that goes to show what the band could have done with a little more polish and time. But the rest of the EP suffers from being faceless, and that's a problem that the band should have addressed before venturing out into a genre with such a lack of variety as emo punk. Fans of this style will probably really like this, but most others should avoid this and stick with
Jawbox for their emo metal thrills. ~ Bradley Torreano