I Am the Avalanche/The Swellers/Turnover/We Were Kids

Formed in 2004, , I Am The Avalanche is a hardcore band with pop-punk tendencies. Or perhaps a pop-punk band with hardcore tendencies, depending on the song. Tracks like “Two Runaways” and “Where Were You?” mix heavy guitars and singer Vinnie Caruana’s controlled, throaty vocals with catchy riffs that build up to something almost danceable by the song’s end. “The Shape I’m In” uses layers of repetitious vocals and sing-songy guitar sequences set to a backdrop of enthusiastic drumming. Caruana’s lyrics here focus on struggling to get over a major breakup while maintaining a façade to the rest of the world that he’s fine. (Trenholme)