Teddy Roosevelt famously once said “Comparison is the thief of joy.” In the indie music scene however, comparisons are unavoidable.  For Yours Truly, a pop-punk band from Australia with a female lead singer, the similarities to Paramore are obvious, at least on the surface. On their second album, Toxic, due August 16th on UNFD, the trio settles into their own lane, with a more aggressive and harder edge than their American counterpart. 

Coming in with 10 tracks at just over 28 minutes, Toxic quickly grabs the listeners attention with Back 2 U, a high speed jam with a super catchy hook, that immediately gets the head moving. This fast tempo continues with Sour, a fun groove with punchy guitar riffs. The first track that really stands out as a potential radio hit is California Sober. Vocalist Mikaila Delgado sings about being in a relationship with a partner who smokes too much. “Maybe you would you like me more/If I got you high?/I can’t compete with that” 

Guitarist Teddie Winder-Haron keeps the heavy licks coming on Let Go, as his playing is the centerpiece on this pretty straightforward rock song. Things start to slow down a bit, and we get to hear Delgado’s beautiful vocals shine on All That I’m Not. This provides a much needed break from the high energy of the first four tracks. Love Feels Like is a hypnotic interlude of sorts, not quite a fully developed song, but interesting nonetheless.

We get back to the more upbeat sound of the first half of the album on Bloodshot Eyes, which might be the best song on Toxic. All three members are firing on all cylinders here, with Henry Beard showcasing his drumming prowess. Sinking gives us the only feature on the album, as fellow Australian band Bloom lends powerful vocals to this raw and aggressive screamo song. Desaturated starts to close things out, with a more angsty pop feel, slightly reminiscent of  Willow. Great, fun song to sing along to. Call My Name finishes the album with a bang. A slow build, but full of powerhouse vocals and the killer shredding that’s shown throughout the album. The production on Toxic is really solid, but it’s damn near flawless on Call My Name. Very clean and well layered. 

I had no idea what to expect with this record. A very pleasant surprise, and a great listen for any pop-punk fan. I’m really loving this resurgence as of late. It’s especially nice to see these great albums come from all over the globe. I highly recommend giving Yours Truly a chance. Definitely a band I’m going to be keeping my eyes on in the future.  

Rating: 8.1/10

Release Date: August 16, 2024

Tracklisting:

  1. Back 2 U
  2. Sour
  3. California Sober 
  4. Let Go
  5. All That I’m Not 
  6. Love Feels Like
  7. Bloodshot Eyes
  8. Sinking feat Bloom
  9. Desaturated
  10.  Call My Name

Reviewed by Jeremy Schmidt