iSound

“A past that will repeat / the story’s been told before / before we rewrote it.” This lyric holds true for Somerset. Not even around for three years, the band are prepared to release their debut full-length, Pandora, on Punknews Records on August 9, 2005. As the opening lyric for the song “Open Books” and the entire album, this bold statement has much to say. Though the earliest material the band recorded showed off their pop sensibility, they always held tight to the biting political lyrics that have become a forefront to their sound. While it’s hard to pin down a specific genre for Somerset, it is undeniable that they are aggressive while staying catchy and melodic. Sawtoothed guitar riffs from guitarists JT Viele and Forrest Olsen are held in place by Olsen’s lush voice and Viele’s honey-soaked harmonies. The driving, amazingly technical and jaw-dropping drum and bass parts, held down by Claudio Rivera and Matt Broadbent, respectively, offset all this. Though the band seem poli...