Pop punk has gone through many phases.

From the dirty guitars and emotional lyricism of the third wave to the fun pizza-loving aesthetic that made the world “defend pop punk,” comes a new wave of musicians, some still playing packed basements, others making a name for themselves on the mainstage. Underbrook is one of the bands taking the reins for this generation.

Mixing their love for the old school with their personal knowledge of new school aesthetics, the band is riding the new wave to victory with their debut record, Was Happiness Too Boring For You?, an explosive seven-track EP that taps into what pop punk has always been about. It’s not the aesthetics, it’s a raw piece that wears its heart on one sleeve and its influences on the other. They mesh their love for bands like Blink-182 and New Found Glory with their unique takes on the genre.

Was Happiness Too Boring for You? - Underbrook — Was Happiness Too Boring for You? – Underbrook

Though the band has some familiar faces, this is not a side gig for any of them. It’s a full-scale project with experienced musicians coming from all over, from writers to producers, to playing in successful bands like Crown the Empire; all six of them hail from different corners of the scene.

“This isn’t a nostalgia play – this is who I’ve always been at my core,” says vocalist, songwriter and producer Chris Comstock. “Underbrook is about channeling the emotions and chaos that shaped me, and giving them a voice through the music that first made me feel understood.” Underbrook is rounded out by bassist Hayden Tree (lead singer; Crown the Empire), guitarist Josh Strock (writer and producer; Motionless In White, Fever 333, Machine Gun Kelly), guitarist Danny Couture (writer and producer; Bring Me The Horizon, 24kGoldn), guitarist Jake Torrey (writer and producer; Linkin Park, Twenty One Pilots, YUNGBLUD), and drummer James Brownstein.

The lead single of the record, “Heads Up,” pulls the EP together. Punchy guitar riffs and dynamic vocal performances with just one listen of the single instantly transport you back to the teenage angst we all remember. “OTWD” has a similar effect. It’s the perfect song to yell. With lyrics like “Don’t forget to wave to me on the way down” and “how’s it taste now” in the chorus, it makes for a snarky release of aggression after a betrayal. Comstock’s vocals have that classic nasally sing scream sound that just feels like releasing your demons when you sing along.

The music video released for the track features Comstock in a Severence-esque world fighting zombies in an office building. Fighting off the hypocrites and people that have let him down, while also bringing back the tie to pop culture and fun, the genre is known for.

All of the tracks have a sticky sort of quality. The lyrics get wedged in deep and are hard to escape after just one listen. They’re all irresistible earworms, but where the beginning of the record feels like classic pop punk sound, the latter half slows down the fiery angst and goes for a more emo sound at times, utilizing guitar tapping techniques typically associated with the emo genre. This is where the strongest songs lie. “Take It From Here,” “Face the Facts,” and “New York” hit emotional chords and showcase the true talent these musicians have, not just as individuals but as a band. The songwriting on these songs is top-notch, capturing the feeling of being alone, lost, and fearful for what’s to come in such relatable ways.

“Take It From Here” is the obligatory ballad on the record. With minimal instrumentation outside of vocals and acoustic guitar, it’s stripped down to reveal the hurt behind the lyrics, lines like “With you I was wet cement/ Every touch was permanent/ All I am is a monument of us” opening the track with such an emotional gut punch. That feeling of being so invested in something, you let it mold you in ways you can’t control. It’s vivid and real, something that is lacking in the genre and is so necessary. Underbrook hit the nail on the head.

The EP pulls you in with nostalgia-filled riffs and the fun pop punk we all remember, but by the end, Underbrook has proved they’re more than nostalgia bait; they’re a full-fledged band with their own identity. The entire EP has such an authenticity about it; it’s undeniable that this is what the band loves to do, and they’re just getting started.

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