Coming from Cerritos, California, Two Story House has released their debut EP, Brace for Impact. The 5-piece heavy hitters consisting of Reugh Aldemita (vocals), Cole Shea and Silvio Capoferri (Guitars), Jeremy Aguinaga (Bass), lastly Aaron Dominia (drums), blend nostalgic influences like Blink-182, New Found Glory, and Saves the Day with a modern polish. This EP may only be eleven minutes, but when spinning the record, it unleashes a time capsule transported back to the late 90s or early 2000s. If you placed these tracks into films like American Pie or Not Another Teen Movie, no one would notice that these songs were made today.

The lead single, “A Clean Start” is reminiscent of Blink-182’s “Going Away To College,” but lyrically it flips the narrative and takes an opposite approach. The lyrics talk about recovering from breaking up with someone, entailing the emotional aftermath, self-reflection, and slow push toward healing. As the track builds, their sound had me hooked, and I couldn’t help but start two-stepping in my room. The drum patterns that Aaron plays is loud and prominent through the chorus, and while Aaron is a powerhouse behind the kit, his beats are intensified thanks to the mixing of Ben Hughes of Stateside.

Ben’s mixing on the EP is strong and hints at his growing potential as a mixer. While the vocals are occasionally overshadowed by the instrumentation in certain moments, the mix still effectively captures the band’s energy. Opening with “A Clean Start” proves to be a smart choice, immediately pulling listeners in and setting the tone for the record.

“Not Here, But Somewhere” is the song that immediately made me think this would have been a hit in the 2000s. The track sounds like it was crafted with New Found Glory as a clear influence. Reugh’s vocal pattern and style throughout the EP is similar to Jordan Pundik of New Found Glory amongst other influences to be dissected throughout this article. I mean hell, Two Story House have actually covered “My Friends Over You” at Skate Shop and DIY venue, Programme Skate and Sound. The band has stated in the past that New Found Glory is one of their influences, and this song clearly showcases just how influenced they are by them. If New Found Glory were looking for an opener, this track alone proves why Two Story House should be the choice.

The title track, “Brace for Impact” — still an enjoyable song, but it feels more understated compared to the rest of the EP, in which the tempo feels a little slower than the rest. The biggest highlight to me on the song is the guitar riffs in the intro. Even though I mentioned earlier that it may be the slowest song on the EP, it still got me energized. One thing about the EP I won’t discredit is just how energetic it makes you feel—the band’s energy is always at 100 percent and very noticeable. These guys are putting all their energy into this EP, and that’s what matters most.

In my opinion, “Fed Up” is the best song off the EP, due to it feeling like a lost Saves The Day song — with guitar riffs and bass lines reminiscent of “You Vandal” from Saves The Day. To continue dissecting Two Story House, Reugh’s vocals on this song reminds me of Chris Conley. While It’s such a fun song to run around in a circle pit, additionally, it feels so lyrically relatable.

“Every day just feels the same the daily dread of living in my head No soul can hear me out, I'm just done” - Two Story House, “Fed Up”

It reminds me of the mundane days of working so much that I am worrying “is this how my life is going to be forever?” and times of overthinking situations that I wouldn’t be able to change the outcome of. Yet, instead of slowing it down and turning it into an acoustic song, they keep it fast and up-beat, making it my favorite off the EP.

Lastly, “Drying Paint” closes out the EP, and I am glad they re-recorded this song, as it encapsulates what the band is as a whole — a group of friends playing music together and having fun. The original version from the 2024 Demo is good, but its biggest drawback is that the mixing isn’t the greatest. As mentioned earlier, however, Ben’s mixing really helps the band sound clearer and stronger. Jeremy's bass lines are outstanding and it really shines throughout this song. The guitar riffs don’t overpower the vocals as they did in the original version, yet they remain just as powerful. I also can’t leave out the drumming—throughout this EP, Aaron is a true powerhouse behind the kit.

In just 11 minutes, Two Story House’s EP showcases exactly why they’re worth the hype. The only downsides I can note are that the guitars sometimes overpower the vocals and the title track isn’t my cup of tea. Still, the EP is fantastic, capturing an old-school 2000s vibe while feeling modern. It had me jumping in my room, playing air guitar and air drumming—it’s just a fun-sounding record. These guys are giving it their all, putting every card on the table, and they’ve definitely hit the jackpot. I swear, Two Story House will eventually tour or open for New Found Glory because of their sound, and I want to make that very clear.

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