ALBUM REVIEW ~ NECK DEEP ~ 'NECK DEEP'

I'm music magazine, neck deep, vans warped tour, dumbstruck dumbf**k, this is all my fault, , we need more bricks, blink 182, ben barlow, 0 — Photo Credit: Nat Wood

Neck Deep’s newest record has only been out for several days yet already it’s surfacing heavily on alternative rock stations. Prior to the self-titled release, the band has been scaling the world of pop-punk for over a decade now, from their humble beginnings sharing their songs on the internet, to touring major festivals such as Vans Warped Tour (before the infamous tour retired), and now acknowledged as one of the most common names heard in alternative rock and emo subgenres.

“How many scars have you got/how many tears have you dropped?” is a straightforward opening line into Neck Deep’s newest release. Bratty and to the point, “Dumbstruck Dumbf**k” will hit listeners with that fast-paced, middle-school pop-punk nostalgia.

“Sort Yourself Out,” follows the lead, trailing along heavy with the old-school sounds, and an adolescent angst sung to a busy chord progression and hurried tempo.

A deeper look within, the third track “This is All My Fault” looms into the self-loathing characteristics often found in the emo sub-genre. It’s a bittersweet confession, admitting to being the downfall of a close bond and stepping away before the damage grows worse, something of a breakup anthem without the unresolved anger and hurt.

“We Need More Bricks” is a call-to-arms message. A wake-up call yelling to the masses to open their eyes to the state of the world around them, instead of blindly turning away. This anti-establishment hymn hits harder than the teenage fury and melodramatic taglines associated with the pop-punk genre, diving into deeper depths and opening the door to a world that believes change is on its way. “We Need More Bricks” is a step apart from what fans are used to hearing from Neck Deep, showcasing a stronger more empathetic side of the band.

“Heartbreak of the Century” takes us back to breakup songs and yearning for a love that wasn’t meant to be, in classic Neck Deep style of course with hard-played chords and a riveting bass line that stands out on the bridge. Instrumentally, this song takes more cues from classic acts like Blink-182, and New Found Glory, but vocally, you couldn’t mistake Ben Barlow’s wails.

Favoring escapism is the theme of the next track, titled “Take Me with You.” Both funny yet oddly relatable is the notion of hoping there’s something out there to take us away and forget about this world, even if that something is a spaceship from another planet. Talk about escapism!

“It Won’t Be Like This Forever” is more of a manifestation than a pop tune, a promise of seeing a relationship through rough times and making it out the other side. Full of hope and choppy riffs, there’s not much to say about this one that’s not already said in the lyrics.

Closing us out is “Moody Weirdo.” The final song hits like a slam poem, throwing punches in colorful words that strike listeners while delivering a positive message. You can’t help but envision what you would tell your younger self if you could.

Neck Deep’s self-titled release doesn’t stray from the band’s roots, homing in on the skate punk melodies and themes such as heartbreak, growing up, inner angst, and defying the systems which confine us. The album has since gained airplay on SiriusXM stations and Spotify, with a USA tour for the band all throughout the end of January into February.

I’m Music Magazine Writer Alice Kearney