EP review: NOAHFINNCE – MY BRAIN AFTER THERAPY

NOAHFINNCE knows how to grab your attention. Having built a sizeable following online – his YouTube channel has over 800,000 subscribers – via a personality that’s charismatic, honest and not lacking in attitude, the pop-punker has taken that relatable energy into his music, swiftly building a reputation as an artist embracing self-expression with an appealing no-holds-barred authenticity. MY BRAIN AFTER THERAPY continues this trend, delivering six tracks of colourful pop-punk that tackle the subject of mental unrest.

Opening track WORMS (In My Brain) recalls the manic hyperactivity of YUNGBLUD – an energetic comparison that’s present throughout. Its bouncy, sugar-rush pop-punk won’t find any fans with the purists, but for those seeking the fun and levity offered by the genre’s current generation, it comfortably delivers.

Elsewhere, NOAHFINNCE takes a more softly-spoken approach on sweet power-pop number CHASING DAYLIGHT, while closing track AFTER THERAPY – which features fellow pop-punkers Hot Mulligan – also stands out. The latter is a vibrant conclusion to the EP, and a song which delivers both the angst and appeal of NOAHFINNCE at his best, with the use of electronica accenting the joyous pop-punk melodies.

It’s not quite a game changer – MY BRAIN AFTER THERAPY feels more like a taste of what’s to come from NOAHFINNCE than a full-blown demonstration of his abilities at their peak – but there’s more than enough here to suggest that the musician can join the likes of YUNGBLUD in becoming a prominent voice for the misunderstood. As pop-punk continues to evolve and usher in a bright, inclusive new era, expect NOAHFINNCE to help lead its charge towards a full-blown rebirth.

Verdict: 3/5

For fans of: YUNGBLUD, carolesdaughter, Waterparks

MY BRAIN AFTER THERAPY is released on June 3 via Hopeless