Demi Marshall reviews the reigion's new ep

​"My name is Demi Marshall, and I am a 21 year old college student from Northwest, IN. I experiment with a variety of writing styles (usually never showing them to anyone), but mostly what I do is music review. My writing has been featured in Unclear Magazine, Strife Magazine, my college newspaper, and my personal blog, InAlternative. I hope to continue writing and pursue a career in something related to music journalism."

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Twitter: @DemiRain97

Instagram: @demetrarain 

The Reigon's EP "My Way​ Out"

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 The Region is a pop punk/emo band from Northwest Indiana. Consisting of Jake Cyprian (vocals/guitar), Phil Cyprian (bass/vocals), and Jon De St. Jean (drums), the band works well together in creating a fresh pop punk sound. Their latest release 'My Way Out' only has three songs, but is a great example of the band's talent. The Region impressed me with their meaningful lyrics, which add a lot of character to their already strong instrumentals.

 The opening song, "5pm", is my favorite in terms of lyrics. This song discusses how it's easy to feel sad during winter months when it gets dark early in the evening. I find this easy to relate to, especially as someone who is also from Northwest Indiana. The months following the holidays can be hard on a lot of people as the sun begins to set earlier, and there seems to be less to look forward to. As the beat picks up in the song, the lyrics follow, sending an empowering message to stay positive in this time of hardship, "This happens time to time, but the weather passes by." I love how well the lyrics follow the momentum of this song. This song feel very true and raw, and the words flow together like poetry.

 What really caught my attention in the next song, "Time I Have Left" is the quality of the instrumentals and vocals. The sound felt familiar, reminding me of classic pop punk bands such as Blink-182 and Fall Out Boy. I love the guitar and drums in this song. Both are great together and they are catchy, bringing a lot of life to the song. The vocals are also impressive and seem to come naturally. While Cyprian is hitting a few difficult notes, the vocals don't feel forced or rough. I like the classic pop punk sound of "Time I Have Left", because it reminds me of some of the bands I loved growing up, while also bringing on original ideas and sound.

 My favorite song overall is the final track "Crossroads", because I found this song easy to relate to as well, and I really appreciate its sound. It has a heavier sound, which I enjoy, and the lyrics are great as well. The song talks about feeling lost in life, but also sheds a positive light on this issue, "Maybe it's better I don't know. Maybe it's what I needed most." This song is easy to relate to especially for a young adult audience, since young adults are often at times in their lives where they don't know what to do, or feel stuck. I like that this song gives an important message, while also showcasing the heavy side of pop punk. I can see "Crossroads" really speaking to a young audience, and giving them a song they can enjoy while also relating to.

 Overall, The Region's 'My Way Out' is very impressive, and it's refreshing to see so much talent both instrumentally and lyrically. I would recommend The Region to anyone who is a fan of pop punk/emo music, or if you like heavier alternative music. Their lyrics are true and honest, and the band produces a unique and structured pop punk sound. Please check out The Region's music, especially if you are from Northwest Indiana, because it's always important to support local bands. I'm excited to see what these guys continue to produce in the future.