The MagazineCanada

BC natives return with a punk pop record that blends New Wave textures and crackles with undeniable energy. Most tracks push listeners to stand up and dance, with glossy guitar hooks, punchy drums, and bright synths that recall afternoons spent chasing sunlit memories. A handful of power ballads slow the pace, and some listeners may skip those moments, but they do not diminish the album’s forward momentum. The standout is By Your Side, a melodic sparkler written by frontman Faber about his late father, anchoring the record with emotional clarity and a keen sense of melodic lift. As of 2025, the band has crafted a collection that feels both rooted in British Columbia’s DIY spirit and attuned to a broader North American audience. The energy remains a constant, and the performances are tight, with raw guitar tones that bite and choruses that cling. The production leans into the era’s standard textures—shimmering chords, nimble bass lines, snappy percussion, and occasional synthetic accents—yet the mix is polished enough to work on headphones, car stereo, or a packed venue. This is not a retro museum piece; it is a modern statement that respects its influences while pushing the band toward its own loud, infectious personality. Listeners who enjoyed Hedley or Famous Last Words will likely find common ground here, thanks to the blend of accessible hooks and sincere storytelling. The record opens with high-energy anthems that set a fast pace and invite sing-alongs, then eases into songs that tighten the emotional thread without losing momentum. There is a throughline of resilience and bright confidence, a sense that the band knows its strengths and is unafraid to lean into them. While some tracks chase immediacy, others invite repeat listens as guitar lines and vocal melodies reveal new shades on closer inspection. The band’s lyric writing favors clarity over abstraction, delivering messages that feel direct and relatable without slipping into cliché. In the bigger picture, the album stands as a clear statement from a BC-based act eager to stake a claim beyond regional recognition. The record thrives on contrasts. The fast, pogo-ready numbers collide with moments of earnest, mid-tempo storytelling, which keeps listeners engaged through the full listen. The interplay between crunchy guitar riffs and brighter keyboard textures creates a sonic palette that would sit comfortably alongside contemporary pop rock while still offering the edge fans expect from punk-inflected music. Faber’s voice carries warmth and grit in equal measure, delivering melodies that linger long after the song ends. The band’s musicianship shows as much in the tightness of the rhythm section as in the clarity of the vocal lines, a combination that makes even the catchiest chorus feel earned rather than manufactured. The live potential is obvious: these tunes are built for the crowd to bounce, group-sing, and move as one when played with a room-full-of-ears approach. The album also speaks to a broader moment in Canadian music, one that blends local pride with a willingness to cross borders and cross genres. It is the kind of record that transitions well from casual listening to deeper, repeated plays, inviting fans to notice new details on every listen. The New Wave touches breathe through the clean guitar tones and the shimmering synth accents, giving the songs a sunlit glow even in the louder moments. It is the sense of momentum that carries the tracklist, a momentum that leaves the listener with a sense of forward motion rather than nostalgia alone. In short, the work is a confident, riveting debut that makes the case for the band’s potential to headline stages and top playlists alike. The album invites fans to press play again and again, letting the melodies settle in and the energy stay high. Another layer of the record’s appeal lies in its honesty. The songs speak plainly about determination, loyalty, and the bonds that endure through loss. The tribute to a father, expressed in By Your Side, rises as a moment of vulnerability that suggests the band is more than just a collection of aggressive hooks; it is a group capable of quiet, meaningful moments that deepen the listening experience. In this sense the album becomes not only a surge of entertainment but also a personal statement from a band that understands the power of a well-crafted chorus, a memorable guitar figure, and a singer who can carry a room with a single, honest line. For Canadian fans and North American listeners alike, this is music that feels both familiar and fresh, a record that respects its roots while looking outward with confidence. It is the kind of release that rewards repeated listens, revealing new textures, subtleties, and sparks of inspiration with each replay. In all, the work marks a strong entry into the contemporary punk pop scene, one that harnesses the warmth of pop melodies, the edge of punk energy, and the glossy polish of modern production. It demonstrates what a BC act can achieve when it writes with clarity, cares about performance, and trusts the strength of a direct, human voice. The music speaks for itself, and the result is a collection that lands with immediacy on first listen and continues to resonate after multiple spins. The album is to be celebrated for its courage, its clarity, and its irresistible urge to dance, all while remaining anchored in sincerity and personal meaning.