I've always thought of Neck Deep, State Champs, and Knuckle Puck as the golden trio of pop-punk, each band showcasing their own take on what is "pop-punk". Neck Deep has been on the heavier, punk spectrum for me, with their first few EP's being very raw and full of angst. However, especially with their latest release, The Peace and the Panic, they're revealing the ways in which the band has grown up over the years since they began, both personally and musically. Since the release of their last album, Life's Not Out to Get You, two of the band members lost their fathers, and this and other factors like the current political climate influenced the direction of the new record.
There's a big variety in terms of the tones expressed throughout the songs of this album. You have heavier, more politically based songs like "Don't Wait" and "Happy Judgement Day", while the band explores a softer, more vulnerable side that hasn't come out as much in previous records with songs like "In Bloom" and "Wish You Were Here". There are plenty of great pop-punk moments as well too, like opening track "Motion Sickness", where the opening riff brings to mind The Story So Far's earlier days. "The Grand Delusion"and "Parachute" both remind me of Simple Plan, back in their heyday. The former is high energy and fun, while the later is a little more of a love song and has a tenderness to it while still being full of distorted guitars and driving drums.
One of the things that stuck out to me throughout this album is the obvious growth in Ben Barlow's vocals. In some of their first releases, his voice felt more strained, showing more influences from the hardcore/punk scenes than from pop sources. The shift towards a focus on melody and clarity really shows, with Barlow's vocals being a real highlight on every song. "Parachute" and "In Bloom" are two of the best songs for his voice, really showing off the lows and highs of his range and allowing him to express vulnerability in a softer way than the raging vocals of past.
Lyrically, the album straddles the line between honesty and obviousness. For other genres or bands, that approach wouldn't work as well; however, pop-punk has never been a place where complexity and subtleness have really thrived. "Don't Wait" really feeds off political angst and frustration, with lines like
"The government is lying,
I'm not going to be a Pharisee of this society,
turn off your TV station,
that's not real information"
and the opening line of the chorus
"Don't wait for anyone
Say it for you
Say it for yourself".
The inclusion of Sam Carter, vocalist for Architects, really adds to the raging aspect of the song, the apprehensive feeling that the future is unsure and the present is unstable. "Happy Judgement Day" also plays on the feelings of helplessness that are prevalent, with the first verse feeling very, very accurate, playing on the common phrase "Oh what a time to be alive", but not in a positive manner:
"Oh what a time to be alive
Wake up and smell the dynamite
And keep your eyes locked tight to that screen
And don't believe everything that you see
You will find modern life's a catastrophe".
Other songs touch on the loss the band has experienced, with songs like "Wish You Were Here" and "19 Seventy Sumthin'". The former deals with it in a more broad sense, encompassing the loss of fathers and friends that is easily relatable to, while the later goes into the story of how Barlows' parents met and fell in love. "Wish You Were Here" goes with the acoustic approach, while "19 Seventy Sumthin'" has a more laid-back vibe up until the end, where the tone shifts as Barlow sings about his father passing and the band comes in full force to create a really moving moment. One of the lines that really stuck out to me was in that emotional moment near the end:
"And though he's gone, I know he's gone
He lives on in all of us
And I will hold you when you cry
'Cause that's what he would have done"
It reveals a lot of the personal experience Barlow had with his father's passing, and allows the listener to grieve with him through the climax of the song.
There's also plenty of songs about relationships and girls throughout the album. "Heavy Lies", "Critical Mistakes", "In Bloom", and "Parachute" all deal with these subjects in different ways. "Parachute" shows the struggle to deal with the struggles of life while maintaining a relationship and being there for the other person. "Critical Mistake" goes through the process of someone trying to move past a mistake, with their partner having difficulty forgiving them. "Heavy Lies" has Barlow begging for the subject of the song to be honest and real with him, not to hide behind lies as many people have done in his life before. "In Bloom" reveals a person who wants to get better, but can't partially due to the efforts of someone constantly trying to fix a relationship.
The shift from the punk to the pop side of the spectrum is not truly surprising; considering it's the third release from the band, it makes sense for them to have become a bit more influenced by poppier sounds as they continue to move further into the spotlight. This is not to say, however, that they have sold out in any way, shape, or form. The band retains the same spirit they've displayed through their music, both recorded and live, while giving it a new spin. Definitely an album you won't want to miss this year.
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended: Parachute, In Bloom, Judgement Day
Related: State Champs, Neck Deep, Real Friends
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