ALBUM REVIEW: Aftermath – Belmont

Chicago quartet BELMONT have truly re-invented themselves this time around. Moving further into the realms of prog-punk, Aftermath is a gruellingly heavy delight; taking elements from pop-punk, hardcore and even incorporating a sprinkling of drill, this is a record that refuses to play it safe. With a solid mix of reliable bangers and some total curveballs, Aftermath is an exciting breath of fresh air.

Opening track Fully Sent highlights BELMONT’s strengths. Not only is it gloriously fun, but it’s exciting – easing you in with a muted dose of chilled lo-fi before bursting into full force, there’s a sense that BELMONT are happy to play with any textures they can get away with. The track only continues to delight, with an electronic, gently industrial backdrop to the chorus.

This sense of innovation and playfulness is captured repeatedly on Aftermath. Stand-out single Bowser’s Castle has that classic pop-punk edge, with cascading guitars and a solid, drill-inspired chorus as they sing “why push me off the edge when I’ll just go jump off myself?”. The innovation even extends to the vocal choices too; Pain Now and Parasitic pack a heavy punch, cycling between standard vocals, a sick flow of rap, and metalcore-esque rumbles.

The more standard tracks at times do run the risk of blending together, but that doesn’t mean they’re not a total joy. The sturdy drums on tracks like Top Gun (From The Top) and In My Skin totally scream mosh pit, with lyrical hooks that get stuck in your head almost immediately.

But the real star of the bunch… Country Girl. Does this track fit into the rest of the record? A pop-punk-metal-country anthem? You may initially be inclined to say no, but BELMONT just make it work. This is Emo Girl’s Western cousin, filled-to-the-brim with lyricisms so outrageous that you can’t help but absolutely adore it. Upon hearing the absolutely life-changing line “we was chasin’ cows, we was wrangling” or the awe-inspiring “she smiles biggest when she rides my tractor”, you will understand. From start to finish, it feels like this track should not exist… but we’re so glad that it does. This is the peak of innovation, this is what music should be. Country Girl is a fever-dream and it is fabulous.

Overall, Aftermath is a solid, exciting listen. When they twist the classic pop-punk formula, BELMONT are truly a force to be reckoned with. We can only hope that they play more into that innovation and carefree experimentation on further releases.

Rating: 7/10

Aftermath is out now via Pure Noise Records.

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