The Welsh quintet, also known as Neck Deep, has returned with a new self-titled album, and we hear them returning to their early roots. But after 12 years as a band, I wondered how they would keep up with their peers’ releases last year, and wow… They went beyond and above my expectations excellently. The singles were catchy and good, but what about the rest of the album? Proper amazing.
‘Dumbstruck Dumbf**k’ opens the album in the most energetic and is irresistible and catchy, thanks to the infectious guitar riffs and supported by the dynamic vibe that continues throughout the song by the drums. While the lyrics reflect on being “good enough” for someone, Neck Deep wonders if they are missing out on being with them. On ‘Sort Yourself Out’, the band treats us to a classic pop-punk track with fast-paced guitars and drums in the background. At the same time, Ben Barlow sings about falling for someone who just isn’t having any of it and urging him to “sort himself out”, all while he is out there buying flowers and apologizing for whatever.
And while we’ve been listening to ‘Heartbreak Of The Century’ since it was released in 2023, there’s no denying that it still stands as one of the best tracks on the album. A catchy chorus, “You’re so smart / But my love just ain’t enough / Baby, that’s okay /I was thinking about fucking myself anyway”, and for an album closer ‘Moody Weirdo’ as energetic and lively as the rest of the record, which honestly is the only way to end this album. Would some love ballad have stuck its landing and message as well as ‘Moody Weirdo’? Likely not, or at least that’s my own opinion.
To summarize, Neck Deep has made one of the best albums of their career here. It’s just a top above their debut album Wishful Thinking, well-polished in the excellent sense, wildly mixed, all done by Seb Barlow, Ben Barlow’s brother, and the band’s bassist. The lyrics are written to much delight, with some rather catchy verses and chorus throughout the album, and no band member misses their time to shine on each track. I’m probably what you’d call a casual Neck Deep fan, but I might consider seeing it on my “End Of The Year” list for 2024. Well done lads.
