Album Reviews

The second opening track “Balloon Man Running” bursts out of the speakers, you know you’re in for an absolute treat. Public Opinion’s sophomore effort, The Curse Of Public Opinion, is a white-knuckle, highly melodic ride that bursts at the seams with nervous energy, refusing to run out of steam until the final notes ring out just short of the half-hour mark.

Initially started in 2020 as a personal project for vocalist Kevin Hart (no, not that one), the outfit has since evolved into a full-fledged band featuring seasoned punk lifers from Denver, Colorado’s hardcore scene. While their 2024 debut was no slouch, this new record rules on an entirely different level.

From start to finish, the album unleashes a relentless barrage of infectious hooks and soaring, singalong choruses. The drums are battered like there’s no tomorrow, and the basslines thump with reckless abandon. While rooted firmly in melodic punk rock, other influences shine through loud and clear, most notably some garage-rock swagger à la The Hives on a song like “The Luck Of Me,” alongside nods to Drug Church (whose frontman Patrick Kindlon is already a  fan).

In stark contrast to the uplifting, high-octane music, Hart’s lyrics tackle the soul-crushing weight of existence with brutal, unfiltered honesty. Nowhere is this more apparent than on “Epitaph,” where he openly ponders his own absence: “What will become of those I love?… Who’s gonna cover my shift in the morning?” Yet, despite the darkness, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Or at the very least, a defiant middle finger raised to the sky, as captured on “Modern Convenience” with a killer guest spot from Vinnie Caruana (I Am The Avalanche, The Movielife).

The Curse Of Public Opinion perfectly captures the love-hate relationship with existing, wrapped up in some of the catchiest and most urgent punk rock anthems you’ll hear all year.