#theunderclass

Stoke-On-Trent five-piece The Underclass have already began turning heads across the Midlands thanks to a number of their smashing single releases last year, such as ‘The One.’ After sell out shows at venues such as The Cavern Club and O2 Leicester, The Underclass are slowly but surely building a dedicated audience that’ll only grow the more their music is heard. Carving their own niche with essences of inspiration from artists like The Twang or The Enemy, The Underclass continue to a harbour a song that’s both nostalgic and modern in touches, making a real stand-out in modern indie rock. Newest single ‘Hometown’ is no exception either, providing just another insight into the potential The Underclass have to go far.

As leading electric guitar emphatically plays an opening riff to be remembered, ‘Hometown’ instantly showers the listener with a sense of comfort in its sound that wields an older flair. Championing beside steady drum beats and a gritty bassline, ‘Hometown’ shows off an impressively coordinated sound that at the forefront prioritises energy, euphoria and youthful spirit. Laid atop this bombastic soundscape are commandeering, charismatic vocals that make for plentiful chant-like sections and just a whirlwind of optimism in every punchy line. Closed out with more ringing electric guitar, it’s clear that front and centre of ‘Hometown’ is its timeless melodies and hooks made to radiate an atmospheric, gig-like aura relating best to those most well-acquainted with packed out shows and the locals that come with it. It’s without a doubt that in the sound alone The Underclass have nailed it with the vast power of ‘Hometown’, but the message beneath is what adds just another level of gripping pleasure to the track as it boasts a journey to be heard.

Based heavily around their roots, ‘Hometown’ is a song absolutely embedded with nostalgia and retrospective melancholia. As our protagonist revisits their hometown, and the streets once called home, ‘Hometown’ explores how the passing of time should make somewhere feel completely unknown, yet it still remains an integral part of your life with a familiarity that only comes with that one place your heart truly resides. As you reminisce upon what made you, who you are and how you should never forget your roots, ‘Hometown’ lingers in the forefront of your mind with its compelling and incredibly personal lyricism for a band clearly very proud of where they’ve come from. Lines like ‘Everyone’s grown up, my school’s closed down, but the spirit of the people never disappeared’ embody the message of ‘Hometown’ at its core, with the unavoidable changes in life and the area their hometown still remains a solid, reliable place filled with welcoming faces and locations that whilst ever-changing, will never loose their essence. With many already describing the track to be a ‘people’s anthem’, it’s clear that ‘Hometown’ is already becoming a staple in The Underclass’ discography and live shows, as well as connecting to many who feel rooted within the comforts of where they grew up.

If ‘Hometown’ sounds like the anthem you’ve been searching for, or you’d just like to experience The Underclass’ powerful soundscape for yourself, you can check it out here!

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow