Down Periscope

A local indie rock band from Springfield, Missouri, Down Periscope is a band who has built their sound on a fine lineage of indie legends. Inspired by the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Modest Mouse, Bloc Party, Pixies, The Cure, and enduring New York urchins The Strokes, the four-piece have been hard at work refining their sound and creating something distinctly their own. Released in late July of this year, ‘Snack Pack’ is the results of Theron, Matt, Sterling, and Zach’s hard work, collating five original tracks into one neat and expansive package.



Our first true taste of Down Periscope’s talents, ‘Snack Pack’ opens with the quiet, harmonic tones of ‘Introvert’, an unexpected opener that quickly builds into a jangly indie-pop anthem. Built on Theron’s upbeat, calling vocals and the distinct interplay between the rapid-fire guitar work and Matt’s constant, steady percussion, ‘Introvert’ weaves an enjoyable sound, offering a raw, classic indie vibe with a few kicks and twists of its own.



Second cut ‘Sweet Tea’ offers a more timeless and heartfelt appeal, contrasting lingering melodic flourishes with more driven guitar-heavy choruses that ebb and flow as the track progress. It’s indie that a little bit Americana and a little bit grunge, sparking with invention and nuanced arrangements. Acting to add a more diverse strike to the EP, third song ‘New Castle’ dives headfirst into early 2000’s vibes, clutching to a guitar band sound, before everything is swept aside by reverberating sounds of ‘Northern Lights’, an upbeat pop jaunt that stands out distinctly from the rest of the EP with a twinge of psychedelia pushing it on and on.






It’s not until closing number ‘Lord I Know’ surfaces that the EP really hits you. Showcasing an evolved and wonderfully tactile sound, ‘Lord I Know’ is the perfect realisation of the band’s sound, with every element working in harmony to create a song that grabs you and doesn’t let go, pulling you through the overarching melody and demanding to be played again and again on repeat. With some classic rock influence and uncompromising indie edge, it’s the perfect way to close the EP.



Messy and sometimes lacking focus, ‘Snack Pack’ is your classic debut EP, one where the band are searching for direction and a stable sound that they can throw themselves into. An experiment in production, sound, and style, there is a lot to like about ‘Snack Pack’, and Periscope Down should definitely be proud of it. - Broken 8