SONG REVIEW: Alpine Loop - "Keeping Score (Feat. Sullivan Burkart of Midnight Skies)"
Alpine Loop are back for more with “Keeping Score”
Written by JD Walker
If the name Alpine Loop rings familiar, it’s because it is: the Utah trio were recently featured last month on Ghost Killer Entertainment with “Universal Donor”, and are back with another gritty yet melodic banger in “Keeping Score”. The song features many of the elements that made their previous single a hit, including grungy undertones to their modern approach to pop punk and effervescent shredding lead guitar.
“Keeping Score” begins rapidly with a shreddy riff from lead guitarist Max Scholes reminiscent of a lead that might be heard in an Erra or Periphery song before dropping into a heavily driven verse that’s capstoned by high string harmonics and Travis Casper’s catchy, easily palatable voice. Drummer Logan Casper was again a standout in the track, subtly inserting creative and fast paced fills that greatly augmented the energy of the song.
The chorus of “Keeping Score” does a great job of giving a groovy break from the fast paced verses, but the changing subdivisions keep the pacing up and keeps the listener guessing what will come next. Many of the subtle elements used in “Keeping Score” truly display just how talented of songwriters the boys in Alpine Loop are - it’s easily accessible to those that may not even normally enjoy pop-punk. The song also features a crunchy but not overbearing breakdown that transitions into another fantastic solo from Scholes, who’s chops slowly ramp up to full on sweep picking and tapping (probably) at the end.
While this is Alpine Loop’s second review with Ghost Killer Entertainment, it’s certainly a welcome one. The Utah trio are phenomenal musicians and songwriters who have the knack of adding just enough spice and musical showmanship to cater to fellow musicians in the audience, but are reserved and straight-forward enough in their songwriting to not alienate anyone in the audience with overly technical playing. “Keeping Score” is the perfect middle ground between catchy, simple pop-punk and shred-your-face-off metal. The Casper brothers and Scholes have something special brewing with their eagerly anticipated EP set to drop later this year.
Alpine Loop is just what the pop-punk scene needs: a band that’s changing the game and pushing boundaries. The trio aren’t afraid of mixing influences and blurring the line between pop-punk, easycore, and full on metalcore, and possess the certain intangibles that make a band like Alpine Loop so fun and addicting to listen to. This is without a doubt not the last you’ll hear of this group, and the alternative music scene is better for it.