On “Local State Inertia” this long-running outfit out of Chicago continue to blur the lines between pop-punk and a darker rock edge, nineties emo and post-whatever. After countless EPs, a bunch of full-lengths, they’re back with a new full-length, their first since 2005. Not that you can tell this is their first release in years… it fits perfectly into the band’s catalog.

The hard-hitting drums, crunchy guitar lines and sweet vocal harmonies still sound exactly like when these guys first started out. If you’re into Samiam and the likes, you should gobble up songs like opener “Bee-Stung Lips” and “Alright”. And the fine production job which comes courtesy of Mass Giorgino, rounds things up nicely.