The debut EP from FOND, a quartet from Alexandria, Virginia, was casually great. The band works from a blueprint that pulls from Teenage Fanclub, Sugar, Tigers Jaw, and Title Fight. Loud and melodic aren’t opposites in the FOND universe, and We Can Hang, their second EP, might even top their first release.

All four songs hit hard. The band sounds locked in, guitars pushed way up front, and the drummer absolutely laying into the kit. Everything is sung with conviction and a bit of urgency. FOND sound loud even at low volume. Turn it up and it just gets bigger. Yeah, we hear you all the way in the back, dudes!

This band sounds more than ready to graduate to the full-length format. Probably my favorite ten minutes of alternative rock released this week.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp