Call it “garage rock” or “dad rock,” but whatever you call it—it’s here to stay, and Shutter has what it takes to lead the way. Their latest effort, a short-but-sweet EP called ‘Above Us All’ encapsulates rock’s vulnerable side. It’s a little bit emo and a little bit grunge, but it all culminates into a well-rounded body of work. It’s clear that Shutter didn’t cut corners to produce the final product; this EP was a well-earned labor of love from everybody involved. Each player should be proud of themselves, as practice truly makes perfect, and passion can be heard over perfection in any recording.

“What I Think I Follow” is an emotional entrypoint, reminiscent of early hits by Taking Back Sunday. It’s missing the same dual-vocalist effect, but even without it, the track could fit perfectly in ‘Tell All Your Friends.’ This single immediately introduces audiences to powerful lead vocals. This is critical of the genre; many of the “greats” are still hailed today thanks to their instantly recognizable voices. There’s a rich tone that carries everything, pushing the emotion of each word through without overdoing it. The performance in “What I Think I Follow” is a good reminder that you can get your point across without screaming, and sometimes, subtleties are far more memorable, anyway. There’s an awesome guitar solo at the bridge, or more accurately, closer to the end of the song. This decrescendo makes for a killer transition into the next track.

As a result, “Burn” comes in slowly, like any great novel—which, consequently, is the theme of the song. “Burn” quite literally details a slow burn relationship, with the narrator’s passions being explored eloquently. There’s some interesting production choices in the mix post-chorus, and I wish I could hear what was being said more clearly. Again, the instrumental is just phenomenal from everyone involved. This is the most cinematic track of the EP, and following this path of cinematic sports stadium rock could do wonders for Shutter as they grow beyond their local scene. Their aesthetic choices leave them plenty of room for expansion, with “Burn” serving as proof of their competence.

Next, “Jean Drive” was perfectly placed at the middle of the EP. Its mellow introduction is a nice contrast from the other two songs, though it builds nicely about a minute in. Shutter has a knack for catchy choruses that were definitive of the emo era I believe they fit into. Again, it’s very much ‘Tell All Your Friends’ levels of memorable work that Shutter is providing. They aren’t Taking Back Sunday copycats; instead, I think that they have plenty of standout qualities that Taking Back Sunday did at the time that allowed them to be pushed into the realm of unforgettable heroes of the genre. Sonically, it’s similar—but there’s something else that renders the comparison so deep. “Jean Drive” has a nostalgic-yet-fresh quality to it that makes it my favorite in the EP.

“Erase Me” is why I initially put Shutter in garage rock/dad rock land. This song reminds me a lot of my friends Footballhead, who swim in the same circles. The two groups would do well on a lineup together, modernizing a subgenre that ebbs and flows with each passing year. Shutter’s driven guitar work is paired nicely with an audible bassline, which is often missed in rock music. Their choices for delivery in each part: vocals, guitars, bass, and drums, are so sonically interesting and aesthetically pleasing. Again, this chorus is just amazing. It will likely be stuck in my head all day tomorrow.

Finally, “Silver Savior” returns back to that cinematic quality that Shutter is so good at. The slow build in the intro makes everything feel more real, as though you could see what’s being sung in front of you, not like a music video or live performance but more like a film or play. “Silver Savior” is so descriptive without being lyrically too verbose, a perfect happy medium. The pain is felt in each note, even and especially in the calmer vocal deliveries in-between choruses. This was the best choice to close out the EP, as it allows each contributor to participate equally one last time, shining through for new and returning audiences.

Shutter’s EP is groundbreaking work, a solid reminder to go out and support your local scene. You could begin seeing Shutter play tiny rooms one year, and follow them to stadium gigs the next. Their tight instrumental, emotive performance, and skillful songwriting make them one to watch. ‘Above Us All’ is a lot like the EP’s cover art; it’s a game of iSpy, with each sonic layer revealing something new to explore.