Disclaimer: Whenever, If Ever is a love/hate record. If you “get it,†you will be completely floored by its use of vast atmospheric textures and timbres, as well as its nostalgia factor. If you don’t, it will be a whiny, fragmented, enigmatic record that will be a struggle to listen to.
Liferuiner have decided to abandon their ties with old tracks like “A Ticket To The Pussy Crusher†and are trying to write honest, optimistic, and influential songs using key ingredients of melodic metalcore and straightedge hardcore: detuned guitars, predictable breakdowns, and lyrics pertaining to life’s inevitable struggles, hardships, and misery.
Forever Halloween digs deep to unearth some serious human truths – and sounds appropriately mature doing so. The album boasts worldliness in comparison to The Maine’s earlier catalogue, and it’s evident from the authenticity of the collection how effectively the members have channeled their experience of growing up into their work.
After the success of their debut full-length last year, Misser have established themselves as an important component of the rising indie pop punk scene. The Distancing EP offers yet another couple songs for fans to sink their teeth into, as well as coming off as another collection of stories that the band needed to get off their chest.
The range present in Man Overboard’s third full-length Heart Attack epitomizes the fluidity of the term “pop punk,†making the album a must-have for anyone that considers themselves a fan of the genre.
While they have always been known as more of a pop band, rather than a rock band, this time around on Biography of Heartbreak, This Century strips away any rock or punk sensibilities they once had and go straight for the Top 40 pop sound.
Koji’s first full-length release delves deep into the artist’s mind to explore the everlasting journey toward solace and acceptance. As a collection of art, it is supremely relatable by serving as a case study of the universal human experience.
After releasing a few solid EP’s that teetered between emo and hardcore, Daylight have debuted their first LP Jar, defining their shamelessly 90’s alt-inspired sound.
The Wonder Years’ third full-length The Greatest Generation proves once and for all that the band’s significance goes far beyond their infectious sound and tattoo-ready lyrics. The third in a trilogy, the album is made up of thirteen of the strongest and most meaningful songs the band has ever written, cementing them as one of the most important acts of this decade.
With Shane Henderson and the Future Perfect, Henderson utilizes the greater creative control he has on the aptly named Control to explore his musical capabilities, replacing the punk in pop punk with singer-songwriter instead as he moves toward a lighter, more laid-back feel.
