Neck Deep’s latest release, The Peace and the Panic, has set the Welsh band up for even more success. The band’s third album is as bright as the visuals they’ve released for some of the songs. Each song is heavy with Ben Barlow’s energetic voice, and a multitude of power chords. The album opens with ‘Motion Sickness’, an honest song in which Barlow sings, “Don't stop now/Though the motion sickness has you spinning out/ 'Cause you're on your way.” ‘Happy Judgement Day’ opens with standard but in-your-face guitars, and stays the same until the end, until the song changes course, as Barlow’s voice gets higher and the song takes on even more energy. ‘Happy Judgement Day’ is the prefect representation of today’s pop-punk, which has a 90s and early 2000s nostalgic feel, but is invigorated with emotion and more passionate lyrics than that of the early years. Of course, this new type of pop-punk is not just represented by Neck Deep, but by groups like Waterparks and State Champs-all of whom are bands who are not afraid to show deeper emotion through their lyrics. ‘Parachute’ features rhythmic guitar that is almost acoustic-like in sound, and is slightly reminiscent of My Chemical Romance’s Disenchanted. ‘In Bloom’ is most likely the most blink-182-esque track, but Neck Deep’s trademark style is very apparent. ‘Don’t Wait,’ features Sam Carter, and is a guitar-heavy track with well-execute harmonies, and an in-your-face attitude. ‘19 Seventy Sumthin’ is reflective, telling a poignant love story almost as heart-wrenching as Mayday parade’s ‘Terrible Things’. The album closes with ‘Where Do We Go When We Go,’ which opens with chorus vocals and intense guitars. ‘Where Do We Go When We Go’ is a good old-fashioned pop-punk track, filled with Barlow’s emotive but fun vocals, steady percussion, and the band’s trademark guitar patterns. The Peace and the Panic is a pop-punk mainstay of its own, and it’s proof that Neck Deep is still here to make memorable and fun music.
