SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ANTI-QUEENS – DISENCHANTED

THE ANTI-QUEENS
DISENCHANTED
STOMP RECORDS

In 2019, The Anti-Queens released their incredible debut full-length album, The Anti-Queens, which followed a pair of EP’s since 2012. The band, led by Emily Bones and Valerie Knox, has since become among the most thrilling up-and-coming punk outfits you’ll hear, establishing them as Toronto’s—and to a greater extent Canada’s—punk band. Their follow-up to 2019’s self-titled album, Disenchanted, marks a significant step forward for the band as another exciting collection of music from The Anti-Queens.

Disenchanted opens with an absolute ripper of a track, “Apocalypse She”. The track captures everything there is to love about The Anti-Queens: defiant lyrics set over distorted guitars and anthemic choruses. They are masters at delivering massive choruses that elevate a song to far greater heights than some of your favourite punk artists from the past two decades. The same could be said about “Bulldozer”, the following song that hits like a sledgehammer to the side of the head with its fuzz-laden bass, aggressive chorus, and almost-atmospheric half-time bridge.

Across the remaining 11 songs, The Anti-Queens run the gamut that is punk rock with a versatile set of tracks that connect to elements of pop punk, alternative rock, metal, and classic punk from both the late ‘70s and the ‘90s. The lead single, “Doomed Again”, feels like a modern extension of pop punk through its melodic riff and use of lush vocal harmonies while “Dirty Girl” is a midtempo rocker that plays with dynamics. Disenchanted shines brightest however at its heaviest of moments. “Saviour”, with a rhythmic riff in the style of Josh Homme and a brutal chorus, is certainly among the best songs on the album. Additionally, the fuzz-laden and grimy title track, the alternative “Say What You Want”, and the blistering “Owe U Shit”, along with the opening pair of songs, further stand as highlights across a very strong record.

The Anti-Queens continue to hone their brand of punk rock on Disenchanted, an album that feels heavier and less inspired by pop punk than their previous record. The album channels a ‘90s vibe in that it is both aggressive and melodic. Furthermore, every chorus seems to be larger than life, demonstrating an elevated level of focus on songwriting and production to ensure each track develops from where it began in a way that feels fresh and exciting, rather than concede to norms within the genre. This in itself is a central element that separates The Anti-Queens from their contemporaries and makes Disenchanted such a special release, one that is certain to be among the best punk releases this year.

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