Album review: Sad Park – No More Sound

There’s something sorely nostalgic about No More Sound. Even in the tracks glittered with anthemic pop-punk energy and buoyant guitar, the third LP from California quartet Sad Park taps into the worries that most of us in our young adult years often would rather not think about: how much time we have, how we’re spending it, and who we’re spending it around.

Opening with No More Songs, acoustic guitar and hushed vocals from Graham Steele give a short but overall picture of what we're about to get into. There’s undoubtedly an underlying melancholy and profoundness to this record. But as soon as things pick up with Always Around, you're thrown into crashing cymbals and galloping guitar as he unpacks FOMO and friendships, and it’s clear things aren't just going to be sad songs on loop.

One of the most refreshing takes from the band is Carousel, despite it being one they nearly scrapped altogether. It mixes a big and crashing instrumental chorus with slow mumbled verses, and even a shrill, high neck vibrating guitar solo. Desperation and urgency is peppered in Graham’s vocals, spurring a complete paradox of emotions. It’s one of the band’s most interesting experiments yet.

Towards the album’s close, Parking Lot truly hones in on that homegrown garage band feel, with layered vocals and ’00s-style distortion cranked all the way up. Titular closer No More Sound mixes surf shack guitar with a ballad-like rhythm, and it goes out with Grant Bubar smashing the shit out his drums, before Graham goes a capella with poignant wails of, ‘Don’t go, stay here.’

Across its 13 tracks, No More Sound is well thought out, and pairs teeny-bopper, joyful instrumentation with lyrics full of home truths. It’s the perfect record for that quarter-life crisis and times of introspection and reflection.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Gallus, Neck Deep, Dinosaur Jr.

No More Sound is released on July 7 via Pure Noise