I played this game with my old school mates earlier as I threw this album down their throats. I went with: "A rawer long lost brother of The Menzingers, a politically dialled down Rise Against and as fired up as early stuff from The Wonder Years." I've only had two full listens so far, but I am fully on board on the hype train. This absolutely delivers on all of the promise that the singles demonstrated and is such a ridiculously great follow up to Schmaltz thematically. The lyrics pack a hell of a punch and actually found myself wincing at a few of them on my first listen. I remember having a similar experience with Schmaltz though and nearly ditching it after my first listen for being a bit OTT. Second listen it clicked though and I know every damn word to that record now. Already singing along to some of these new tracks too.
Also a very good and accurate description. I like how the album it doesn’t feel contrived. It’s charged with raw vocal emotion which is why I enjoy bands like Gaslight Anthem/Brian Fallon, Menzingers and some Social D amongst many good ones. it’s great to have a band release an album that feels so far away from the current pop trend, without trying to play off nostalgia.