REVIEW: Summer Wars - Closer Than It Seems

Five years is a long time for a band to be away. In that time, music can change, audiences can move on and the sound that once felt current can quickly become something nostalgic. For SUMMER WARS, though, the wait has done little to diminish what made the band worth listening to in the first place. Closer Than It Seems marks their return with four tracks that sit comfortably within their emotional pop-punk sound, bringing the catchy melodies and energetic instrumentation that longtime listeners will expect while showing that the band understand when to hold back.

There is an immediate sense of energy on Stuck In This Moment. The track is upbeat from the beginning, with the kind of melody that makes it difficult not to move along with it. It is not trying to be complicated, and that works in its favour. The lyrics are catchy without feeling forced, while the overall production gives the song the polished quality expected from modern pop-punk. As an introduction to the EP, it does exactly what it needs to do, getting things moving quickly and establishing the band's sound without wasting time.

If Stuck In This Moment is about making an immediate impression, Victim Of The Suburbs is where SUMMER WARS start showing more of what they can do with that sound. The song has a stronger sense of dynamics, pulling the instrumentation back at different points before bringing the energy back in. It might seem like a small decision, but it makes a difference when the heavier moments arrive. Rather than four tracks that remain at the same level from beginning to end, there is a sense that the band are considering how each section should feel. The breakdown is particularly effective. It gives the song a moment of impact without feeling like it has been added simply because a pop-punk song is expected to have one. Combined with another memorable vocal melody and strong production, it becomes one of the EP's most complete tracks. There is enough going on to keep it interesting while still retaining the accessibility that runs throughout Closer Than It Seems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ7OyVMHzYo

That sense of restraint continues into Blink Of An Eye. The guitar tone immediately stands out in the opening, giving the song a distinctive starting point before the rest of the instrumentation comes in. Once again, the band know when to pull back, allowing certain parts of the arrangement to breathe instead of filling every moment with noise. It is a quality that becomes increasingly noticeable as the EP progresses. There is a temptation with energetic pop-punk to keep pushing forward until the final second. While that can work, it can also make songs start to blend into one another. SUMMER WARS avoid that problem by giving their songs different levels of intensity. The result is still recognisably the same band across all four tracks, but there is enough variation to keep Closer Than It Seems from becoming a collection of songs following exactly the same formula.

The best example of this comes with Long Gone. Closing the EP with a more relaxed track is an effective choice, particularly after the energy of the songs before it. The harmonies add another layer to the vocals, while the more stripped-back sections allow the emotional side of the song to come through. Its lyrics are catchy, but there is also something more vulnerable about the way they are delivered. Eventually, the song picks up, but the impact comes from having spent time in the quieter sections first. This is where SUMMER WARS sound at their strongest. They do not need to be at full force to make an impression, and Long Gone proves that the band can create an emotional moment without abandoning the pop-punk identity that runs through the rest of the EP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JJ9JVIoCwE

That balance is what makes Closer Than It Seems work. There are moments where the songwriting stays within familiar pop-punk territory, and the EP is not necessarily trying to reinvent the genre. However, that does not feel like the point. After five years away, SUMMER WARS are not returning with something completely unrecognisable. Instead, they are picking up the parts of their sound that already worked and showing that they still know how to use them.

The production helps tie everything together, giving each instrument enough clarity while allowing the songs to retain their energy. The melodies are consistently memorable, but the release is at its best when those melodies are combined with the changes in pace and dynamics. Victim Of The Suburbs has one of the strongest arrangements, while Long Gone is the emotional highlight and arguably the song that leaves the biggest impression after the EP has finished. For a band that has been away for half a decade, Closer Than It Seems feels surprisingly comfortable. There is no obvious attempt to chase whatever sound happens to be popular now, and there is no need for one. SUMMER WARS know what kind of songs they want to make, and these four tracks show that they still have the ability to make them well.

Closer Than It Seems is not a release that completely changes the conversation around pop-punk, but it does not need to. Its strength comes from being catchy, energetic and emotionally aware without overcomplicating any of those qualities. The quieter moments are just as important as the bigger ones, and that understanding gives the EP more variety than its short runtime might suggest. After five years away, SUMMER WARS have returned with a release that feels less like a comeback designed to prove something and more like a band simply getting back to what they do best. Closer Than It Seems is a solid return, with enough energy to satisfy existing fans and enough variation to make the four tracks feel worthwhile on their own. It may not push the band's sound into entirely new territory, but when the strongest moments are this catchy and Long Gone shows just how effective their more restrained side can be, there is little reason to complain.

Score: 8/10

Closer Than It Seems will be released on 18th September 2026 via Adventure Cat Records.

Words: Con Macadam

Photos: Summer Wars