Album Review: The Menzingers - After The Party

The Menzingers' new album is a testament that "growing up" doesn't always have to be synonymous with "getting boring".

The explosive opener Tellin' Lies sets the scene very nicely, posing the question: "Where are we gonna go now that our 20s are over?" What follows is an entirely relatable aural journey of feeling lost and uncertain, knowing that you should probably mature — but wanna have fun while you're at it.

Standout track Midwestern States touches on the struggles of trying to get by, and the depressing state of underemployment — something that a lot of people can relate to right now. The lyrics are simple-yet-incredibly effective: "We both got worthless diplomas from worthless universities/Two bachelors in worthless studies/But at least it made our parents happy/And cost a whole lot of money."

The nuanced songwriting continues with tracks like Bad Catholics, which talks about difficulties faced when trying to conform to societal expectations without compromising one's internal desires.

Despite the sometimes-sobering subject matter, each song manages to be upbeat enough to lift your spirits. Heavy riffs and rumbling drums run rampant throughout the album, and the rambunctious energy captured in each of these tracks will have you convinced that you were listening to this in a rowdy, jovial pub. If you're after some serious earworms that don't compromise on lyrical integrity, then this is definitely the album for you.