Later this month New Jersey-based band Teenage Halloween are releasing Till You Return, a new full-length on Don Giovanni Records. It’s an album which looks cement their place among the brightest and best of contemporary pop punk by fully embracing both halves of the genre’s name. Pop in the fun, often euphoric, embrace of melody and energy in their sound, punk in their willingness to examine some of the most pressing social issues with an unflinching eye. As though, in the face of an often antagonistic world, the twin forces of joy and angst might unite those who need it most.
First single ‘Getting Bitter‘ saw bassist Tricia Marshall take on vocal duties to “[channel] the love and angst of the Teenage Halloween sound into a picture of addiction in all of its tangled complications,” as we described in a preview. “Where a desire to help a loved one struggling with such issues is counterbalanced by an unavoidable frustration.” In contrast, latest track ‘Armageddon Now’ hands the reins back over to Eli Frank and Luk Henderiks for a searing take on the pitfalls of avoiding the difficult parts of life.
“‘Armageddon Now’ urges the listener to find strength to speak their truth in the face of adversity,” as Henderiks explains. “It channels the feeling that others are steamrolling your thoughts and actions and how you have to just follow your own path in the end. The only way to feel heard at times is to keep on pushing your voice, even when it’s not the loudest one in the room.” And Henderiks is more than willing to live up to their own advice, the vocal delivery harnessing the sound’s momentum to achieve a tone both caustic and cathartic. Burning through the bullshit to occupy your space in the world.
I could never charm
Could be good to speak up
Maybe just show honesty
Avoid armageddon now
In the end you’ll leave
Get over it in time
Even when you were entitled to my mind
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The song comes complete with a video directed by Chris Warner and director of photography Alex Korpi. “‘Armageddon Now’ is a collaboration born out of our shared love for the Queer Punk Outlaws wrestling nights that take place in Brooklyn; and which our bassist Tricia’s cousin Judith Henry is involved in,” Henderiks continues. “We invited Judith, our old friend (and previous Teenage Halloween touring member) Mem Pahl, and long-time scene acquaintance Reid Worrol to come bring some of their righteous moves to this celebration of queer strength and an embracing of chaos.”
Till You Return is out on the 20th October via Don Giovanni Records and you can pre-order it now.
Photo by Okie Dokie Studios