Magnolia Park are a band that, in an interesting turn of events, began in more of a pop-punk vein before turning to a sound more reminiscent of nu metal's heyday. As we're halfway through this current decade, the Nineties have become the nostalgic flashpoint, such a nod to the not-too-distant past is one that goes viral fast, as evidenced by the band's popularity on apps like TikTok. Add to this a turn to the dark and sinister, referring to their fans as the “Vampires,” and it could seem like this Florida quintet are trying to see what sticks. And if that's the case, their newest studio effort VAMP absolutely does that.
Those who, like me, discovered these guys from their pop-punk days on songs like their cover of “i2i” or the social media smash “10 for 10,” are going to be pleasantly surprised by this record. It is grittier, heavier, and more accomplished than their previous works, without sacrificing any of the hooky riffs or accessibility. Several of the melodies and choruses here are prone to getting stuck in the listener’s head long after the fact. Among the heavier tracks are the metalcore-infused “Crave” featuring vocals from PINKNOISE and the slightly doom-tinged closer “Ophelia,” with “Wasted” providing some symphonic metal elements to really run the gamut of subgenres.
As for the overall strongest tracks on offer here, it's truly a coin flip between “Shadow Talk” and the chart-breaking “Shallow.” Both are powerful in their own respects, with the former going for detuned guitars and a chug-heavy breakdown, with vocalist Joshua Roberts digging into dark places for the bars he spits and screams during this section. The latter leans a bit harder into melody, flirting with the idea of being a power ballad in its lyrical content and Roberts’ vocal delivery. It's the kind of song that could get an acoustic treatment without losing anything in the process, should the band decide to go that route.
As modern as VAMP feels, it is a nod to an era gone by done with reverence and respect. It is ambitious given Magnolia Park's origins, but it is done well without qualification or asterisk. There is an energy about this neo-gothic concept that feels exciting, and in a world steeped in dystopic everything media, that is not a small accomplishment. Those who have let Magnolia Park slip under the radar need to remedy that fact at their earliest convenience, as these Orlando natives are something fresh and exciting in a genre that does not always welcome such.
VAMP is available now via Epitaph Records.
