SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SUCK BRICK KID – THE END IS WHAT I WANT

SUCK BRICK KID
THE END IS WHAT I WANT
SMARTPUNK RECORDS

For the past decade, Suck Brick Kid has been one of those bands that puts the loud and charismatic in punk rock. Since their 2015 EP, The Beast Goes On, Suck Brick Kid has shown an intense blend of gritty melodicism and agitated soundscapes that one can’t help but feel dragged into their knuckle-bruising guitar riffs, tongue-in-cheek humor, and unique sense of raw cadence. With a slew of conceptual albums under their belts, Suck Brick Kid aims for something more and finds inspiration in the most unlikely of places: a dive bar bathroom. Bathroom graffiti is one of the most overlooked, and sometimes, despite its rudimentary context, if one bothers to look deeper into some of the marks one has left behind, it reveals a whole different story. Suck Brick Kid taps into the minds of some of these individuals and explores beyond the tag.

From the beginning, the opening track, “I Wrote On The Wall, Take That Society”, takes listeners into a world of punchy guitar riffs, clever graffiti tags, raw-throated vocals, and infectious pop-punk melodicism. While Suck Brick Kid maintains a lot of their rough anthemic punk rock guise, it’s part of the charm that resides throughout much of the record. With its bouncy melodies and repetitive choruses, Suck Brick Kid continues to take their tried-and-true formula and continues to put their own unique aggressive pathos with each passing experience.

Suck Brick Kid’s music is further defined by their compelling lyricism and their skillful use of melodic edge. Ear catching moments such as “It’s Okay… Probably”, “What I Do When I Blackout Is None Of My Business”, and “You Can Paint Over Me But I’ll Still Be Here”, showcase their captivating incorporation of gang vocals and infectious choruses. Demonstrating the band’s significant artistic growth from the raw emotional themes of their debut album, Salt To Taste, there is a certain air of confidence in their musical stride that still maintains a lot of their emotional fervor but isn’t afraid to keep things fun and lighthearted.

The following tracks, such as “Silence Is Golden…But Duct Tape Is Silver”, “I Wish I Bought A Life Vest”, and “Beware of Limbo Dancers”, continue to delve into introspective themes and emotions of their mysterious authors before immortalizing them in the form of engaging, melodious, and energetic compositions. Featuring captivating vocal performances, punch-drunk guitar sections, and impressive double-petal percussion work, Suck Brick Kid upholds their rich and immersive musical experience by continuing to craft moments that push their boundaries of harsh and melodic instrumental concepts before reaching the final tracks, “Drunk Octopus Wants To Fight” and “The End Is What I Want”.

Flashes of surreal humor balance out some of the emotional turbulence and darkness that lingers in each of these moments, culminating to a head within the final experiences of The End Is What I Want. The final track “The End Is What I Want” further extends their melodic range more than any other moment on the record. With a tender and emotive use of piano sections that dance around rugged, dirty guitar riffs and impactfully memorable drum work, Suck Brick Kid concludes a fantastic yesteryear-tinged punk rock experience that shows just how far the band is willing to move the needle forward to create humorous yet tenebrously engaging numbers that linger with you long after the record is over.

The End Is What I Want is a creative way of telling someone else’s story from beyond the graffiti tag. What goes on in the mind and behind the scenes of such words before they are written on a wall to be read by others? Suck Brick Kid inwardly looks beyond the meaninglessness behind such words and puts a sense of substance to such experiences, making it not only one of their best concept records but breathes life into the exciting possibilities of where the creative road will lead for the Florida punk rock band.

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