Pop punk still has a tight grip on lots of us and have you ever wondered why? It’s because of the punch of emotions that each track gives when we listen to pieces shared under this genre, and Dancing With Dante‘s latest EP, “Make Pop Punk Again,” is a perfect reminder of just that. Every note on this five-track release delivers all the pop-punk mixes and blends that you crave with the right amount of angst, frustrations, and other surprising emotions. This EP is packed with some serious punch.
“Life Sux” opens the EP strong, which immediately sets the path on where this EP is headed. It got a slow start, which will eventually ram up by the middle of the track as it peaks with Monica Rivas’ vocals singing lines of betrayal and loss after a toxic relationship. The vocalist throws their lines that share experiences of being manipulated and mistreated and eventually falling into a cycle of bad relationships. Each of the lines is punctuated with hard-pounding drums and guitar riffs that give off that clear sense of frustration toward a person and situation in this case. It is anger and regret in one song—a banger!
Next up is “Reckless,” which adds fuel to the fire with its banger vibe brought by that very distinct riff on its intro. This fast-paced track reflects the chaos that its lyrics depict with self-destructive behavior and impulsivity as part of a lifestyle at its core. This track is somehow familiar to a lot of people as it reflects the struggle to cope and take control of their lives, and despite wanting to get out of the cycle, the song also clearly shows how conscious actions and decisions are part of the main problem.
With “Indifferent,” the rhythmic drive of guitars and drums on this track will bring about a story of some unrequited love. This is love, pain, nostalgia, longing, rejection, and desperation in one song. This piece honestly ranks high on top of my fave list for this EP, and following this is “Fishing Trip,” with its signature heavy-hitting and fast-paced instrumentation once again, which hides the strong feelings of emotional exhaustion caused by baggage and promises that have been broken in a connection. As the song progresses, it reaches an acoustic point wherein the singer effectively conveys the question of whether someone truly listens or cares. “Tempress Bell” closes the collection with its acoustic-jazzy-chill vibe while carrying this darker theme relating to manipulation, self-destruction, and temptation.
Verdict? You’ll be missing out a lot if you sleep on Make Pop Punk Again, so don’t! Pop-punk fans, this EP is perfectly made just for all of us to consume. With all five tracks on this release, each of the songs offers something fresh to the table! It’s well written; Dancing With Dante did a great job on its production, and Monica Rivas and Ryan Shariff’s vocals are a great addition to this EP. Now’s the perfect time to add Dancing With Dante to your playlist, and be sure to connect with them on their socials too!
Keep an eye on what they’ll do next, and for sure, you will not regret it! Stream Make Pop Punk Again by Dancing With Dante now!
Follow Dancing With Dante
About the Author
Tine Quirino, also known as Kristine, is a writer (frustrated one), a dreamer (serial sleeper), an INFJ (also INTP/J), a (professional) fangirl, and a good listener (‘literally and figuratively,’ she states).
She is just here, lurking somewhere, enjoying all your music. Music of any kind is still music, after all.
