Review: hellocentral share anthemic pop-rock single 'never better'
Formed by four life-long friends, hellocentral are an ambitious alternative rock group constantly breaking the barriers between genres. With their music compared to stars like Blink-182 and Brand New it's clear to see that their fusions of pop-punk and indie-rock has created a sound in the industry like no other.
With their first EP releasing all the way back in 2018, this group's passion for music has only heightened through releasing multiple singles in the years following on. Most recently they put out 3-song collection 'Heatwave', but have finally made a comeback with latest single 'never better' from their upcoming debut album release. This new single demonstrates a slightly new and exciting sound we haven't heard from them before and sets up great anticipation for what we can expect from the album.
Coming in strong with an addictive electric guitar riff and raspy pop-punk style vocals, 'never better' fits perfectly amongst angsty breakup tracks that leave you a little more cheery than sad. With a conversational lyrical style and more spoken-sung vocal format the song feels familiar and intimate from the get-go, pulling you into the story being laid out in front of your eyes as if told by a close friend. A steady drum beat and gritty guitar leads the anthemic tone of the release, employing an atmosphere impossible not to tap along to at the very least.
Lyrically forward with discussions of heartbreak and torment, 'never better' hears the challenges of a lost-love and the difficulties moving on: 'maybe one day I'll wake up and won't see Tina standing there.' The rawness of the instrumental sounds paired with this diary-like confession of the protagonist's struggles ultimately leaves the song poignant and memorable, yet the pop-punk tone leaves you dancing along regardless. Take a listen to this stand-out release here and find out why it truly is the whole package of fun and deeper lyricism.
Written by: Tatiana Whybrow
