New album: Teenage Halloween || Till You Return
Teenage Halloween’s self-titled debut sneaked into my 2020 year-end list, and I’d probably place it much higher if I redid my list today. Few current bands rival the sheer exhilaration and vibrancy of Teenage Halloween’s melodic punk rock. Anthemic, communal, and raw energy are just some of the key words to describe the sound Teenage Halloween. I was really curious how the follow-up Till You Return would compare to the debut, given how the rough edges are such a major part of what I like about this band. No need to worry in this case. Where bands usually become more polished, calculated and showoff-ish with their second LP, Teenage Halloween’s new tracks may display increased skill, but they also exude the aggressivity and spontaneity of a band of hungry young pups. A pivotal factor in this is singer Luk Henderiks, who takes the ‘sing it like you mean it’ ethos to unprecedented heights.
Teenage Halloween play like there is something on the line. Touching upon themes like isolation, gender, and mental health, Teenage Halloween offer a place of solace and inspiration, their words slogans to rile behind. Till the End definitely beats my expectations. It’s out today at Don Giovanni Records.