Album Reviews

Tired Radio’s Hope In The Haze hits like a punch and a hug at the same time. Over the course of ten tracks, the Brooklyn-based band balances visceral punk energy with raw, confessional lyrics, creating a record that’s both bruising and cathartic. Opening the album with the short, fragile acoustic that is ‘Seem OK’ may seem like an odd choice at first, but holy shit… what a song! Things take off for real with ‘D.R.E.A.M. (Depression Ruins Everything Around Me)’ and don’t let off until the final notes of the American Football-influened ‘Mountains // Molehills’ ring out.

Musically, the album shines in its blend of aggression and melody. Guitars churn and drums hit hard, but the band leaves space for quieter, reflective moments like the title track, giving the album dynamic range that keeps the listener hooked. Think Beach Slang, Iron Chic and early Goo Goo Dolls thrown into a blender with Anthony Truzzolino’s vocals cutting through it all, vulnerable when needed and forceful when the song demands it.

Not having heard any of the band’s previous releases, Hope In The Haze serves as an awesome introduction to Tired Radio. This one’s a punk record that refuses to hide its scars while still offering glimpses of hope. It’s urgent, heartfelt, undeniably gripping and a must-listen for fans of emotionally honest punk.

Hope In The Haze tracklist:

1. Seem OK
2. D.R.E.A.M. (Depression Ruins Everything Around Me)
3. On & On
4. Your Great Escape
5. When You Say My Name
6. Hope in the Haze
7. Records and Regrets
8. Midnight: Miserable (Everyone I Love Is Gonna Die)
9. Fade Away...
10. Mountains // Molehills