Right from the start, this EP sounds familiar. I can’t quite place the band I’m thinking of, but Massive Nightmares hit quickly in a warm and familiar way. They play punchy punk with a big dose of The Replacements-style rock ‘n’ roll. It’s killing me that I can’t place who, exactly, they remind me of, but members also play/played with Great Lakes USA, No Trigger, Save Ends, and David New Joy -- so maybe it’s one of them. Other sites have named The Lemonheads and The Gaslight Anthem too, which are all fitting descriptors.
Anyway, back to the review. While the lyrics are serious and emotional, they also don’t take themselves too easily. The opening track, “Worth It,” has some backing “woos” that sound ad libbed -- in a “probably wasn’t supposed to be on the record” kind of way. And to double down on that silliness, “Back To The Beach”( which is a good choice as a single if you just want to hear one song for the band’s vibe) even has a moment where the band makes fake guitar sounds. But otherwise it’s a melancholy, self-deprecating punk rock tune that’s almost too downer to singalong to its catchy chorus. The guitar lead to “Silent Secretary” gets my head bopping each time the song starts. “Stick Around” has shades of the first wave of emo, where the guitars get a little more explorative but within the familiar framework, building to some deep throat shouts, then daring to tread into classic rock territory for a quick minute as the EP concludes.
I’ve made a few comparisons in this write-up, and they all merge at a rough-around-the-edges rock ‘n’ roll. Without a doubt, Massive Nightmares fit in the punk scene and use standard verse-chorus-verse structures and memorable refrains to drive their points home. But it’s less interested in being edgy or pushing your buttons than it is in sharing their message over a hook that will get stuck in your head. If you take your punk rock with a bit of introspection and a bit of a chill vibe, check this out. It’s a fitting soundtrack for a beer on the porch, a morning coffee or staring at a campfire. It’s reflective, not proactive. And it’s one of the better first records from a new band that I’ve heard in some time.
