Despite most of the members meeting in high school and playing together for 16/17 years, Action/Adventure have only just unveiled their debut album. The band first saw success after the release of their 2020 Barricade EP, of which the titular track reached viral status after the band uploaded a video paired with the song onto the platform that entailed them sharing their experiences of being BIPOC in the alternative scene, scoring them 1.3 million views to date. Shortly after, they were signed to Pure Noise Records, and this album is the product of that achievement.
The quintet immediately demonstrate their technical prowess from the get go; the record’s opening song, and the album’s title track, ‘Imposter Syndrome’ comes crashing in with a sense of aggression and urgency through punchy drums, bright, melodic guitar riffs, and roaring vocals packed with clear diction, tone and a message impossible to ignore – they want you to know they’re a “breath of fresh air”. Simultaneously, their dubiousness and anxiety – and overall album message – creeps through in the lines “we’re the imposters” in a true quintessential self-deprecating pop-punk manner, presenting their inner conflicts of feeling like outcasts whilst maintaining pride in their art.
This plays on not only the bewilderment of blowing up on TikTok during the pandemic and being signed to the same record label as some of their favourite bands, but also nods to them being made up entirely of BIPOC members in a scene that’s historically notoriously white. However, vocalist and guitarist Brompton Jackson stresses that the amalgamation of the members happened entirely by chance, and that whilst it’s important not to lose sight of the significance of the visibility of individuals like themselves in the scene, they don’t want to be a “token band”.
“There’s gloss, there’s grit and there’s greatness.”
‘Save Yourself’ continues on with the same bright tones, tasteful technical guitar work and pristine production whilst following a standard pop-punk template. This is the first insight into hearing Blake Evaristo’s dynamic vocals on the album, armed with a dash of chants from Jackson and an injection of harsh screams at the end, gifting the song a punk grit. The exuberant and engaging ‘Autopilot’ plays with a variation of structures whilst packing an anthemic punch via pulsating guitars, infectious hooks and fast-paced drums; an undeniable finger-pointing hit. ‘3818’ follows suit, with clean, complex riffs and themes of disparagement and ill luck, along with a hat tip to a classic pop-punk motif – suburbia.
‘Losing Streak’ is a great example of their use of playful syncopated rhythms, and through the pairing of pessimistic lyricisms such as “no matter what the constant, we’re still chasing loses” and optimistic instrumentals, is arguably one of the catchiest songs on the record. The speedy tempo and punchy off-beat snare moulds ‘FNFB’ into an archetypal pop-punk tune, and the new style of conversational vocals between Evaristo and Jackson introduced makes it even more of an earworm.
Somehow, a song that divulges into the band’s woes of how a lack of earnestness and steadiness in their lives are tearing them apart, is ironically one of the most fun tunes on the album. Jam packed with vivacity, ‘Levity’ is a verbally sophisticated, expertly crafted track that sees Action/Adventure dipping their toes into easycore, with one of the heaviest breakdowns on the album thus far. It’s easy to see why they chose this song as their first single.
To say the next song drives down a more emo route than other tracks on the album would be doing it a disservice. ‘Carolina Reaper’ swerves down the emo highway, frantically smashing into everything in its path. The track is bursting with dirty chugs, frenzied drums and emotive lead guitar that interweaves with the desperate, dejected cries of the song seamlessly. One cannot doubt the dexterity of this band after hearing this tune.
It’s difficult to follow on from the intensity of the last one, but the next, and penultimate track, is a welcomed cool down after the heat of ‘Carolina Reaper’. ‘Frozone, True King of the North’ returns to the chirpy, full bodied, major toned guitar the band seem at home with, but creates a contrast by presenting the softest vocals we’ve heard, the tired tone of his voice acting synonymously with the lyrics “I’m burning out”. An easy crowd pleaser.
What’s the best way to go out? With a bang. That’s exactly what Action/Adventure have done. A vigorous and uptempo sheen coats ‘Wanderlust’. This track reeks of the “I hate my hometown” stereotype that’s become so heavily associated with pop-punk, calling out for the listener to come “save” them, but graciously lacks the cheesy element that usually goes hand in hand with tales of such a kind. An exuberant, impassioned way to end the album, this track ensures them going out on a high.
Action/Adventure joke that they’re a pop-punk band for adults, and frankly, they’re bang on the money there. An exemplary mix of technical proficiency, indelible hooks and vigour. Not entirely revolutionary, but completely refreshing. Synthesising multiple eras of pop-punk harmoniously is a tough feat, but they’ve fused a sound that suits both older fans of the genre and new alike. There’s gloss, there’s grit and there’s greatness.