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Writer's pictureSammie Starr

EP Review: Low Morale 'Making You Better Feeling'

Skate-punk/emo band Low Morale delivers a familiar and fresh EP that will brighten up the genre this fall.



Whenever the tides change within the genre of pop-punk, bands like Low Morale seem to manifest within its wake. Vocalist Justin Vaughn and guitarist Steve Sherman formerly shared bills with top acts like The Falcon, Iron Chic, Off With Their Heads, Bad Cop Bad Cop, War On Women, and Direct Hit in their former project, Blacklister. Eventually being approached by Man Overboard’s Nik Bruzzese, interested in producing the band in late 2019, they decided it was time for a fresh start.

“Another highlight on this album is "Summer Somewhere." Taking us back to summer days with sun-soaked guitar strings, spry percussive cadence, and consistent cathartic lyricism, Low Morale continues to bring the energy in this EP rather impressively with only two tracks left to end the record. ”

This would eventually be the start of something different and iconic within their blossoming careers. Something that didn't hold the same energies as their other material, but better. Justin and Steve wrote and recorded their upcoming album throughout 2020 as Low Morale, then recruited a new rhythm section in drummer Kyle Rogers and bassist Brandon Sopiecha. This new project would become Making You Better Feeling, a new level of gravitas that would tap them into unchanneled territories within the pop-punk scene. Bridging the gap between west coast skate punk, east coast emo, and rust belt gruff, Low Morale sounds familiar and new at the same time.


The album starts with an opener, "Hell Sounds Heavenly." An explosively nostalgic track that takes us into the rest of Making You Better Feeling, it keeps listeners invested for the rest of the experience.

Another standout track is "International Noone." One of the catchiest lyrical tracks on the EP underlined with some of the best guitar lines, "International Noone" will be a song listeners will go back to again and again.

Other melodic punk gems are "Can't Get You." Another high-octane track with gritty guitar licks and melodic lyric euphoria will take us back to yesteryear with its infectious throwback vocals and dynamic instrumental delivery.

Another highlight on this album is "Summer Somewhere." Taking us back to summer days with sun-soaked guitar strings, spry percussive cadence, and consistent cathartic lyricism, Low Morale continues to bring the energy in this EP rather impressively with only two tracks left to end the record.

Making You Better Feeling ends on a high and lively note with the last track, "We Are The Virus." Ending strong with a heavy-hitting skate-punk number with vivacious percussive delivery, Low Morale leaves us with a stellar EP for the genre to earnestly look back on.

Low Morale have found their footing on this EP and it's clear they enjoy the sounds they make together. Sometimes that is all you need to validate yourself within the scene. If you enjoy what you are doing, it shows within your work. If they continue to make these anthemic, energetic, and inspiring, works within their genre, chances are, these guys will go far within the next few years.



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