I’ve been sitting on Between You & Me’s new album Armageddon since September, just waiting for the moment when I could encourage all of you to take a listen. I’ve had it on regular rotation since it landed in my inbox, turning to it whenever I needed to energise my day or exorcise my demons. The high-energy pop-punk tracks make me nostalgic for that time in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s when bands like Blink-182, Green Day, and Good Charlotte ruled the airwaves. The bands that make that kind of music seem few and far between these days, but I’m glad Australia has Between You & Me flying the flag.
Like a movie that grips you in front of the screen, Armageddon moves along at an exciting pace. With just 10 tracks and all but one clocking in under four minutes, you never get the chance to get bored here. There’s no filler here either. The tracks are ridiculously catchy. The powerful vocals from frontman Jake Wilton are so compelling. The band is right there supporting him with big punky guitar chords, driving drums, and cool bass simmering under the surface. These guys are so tight. Some might argue that punk should be a little messier than this, but it’s a joy to listen to.
Opening track “Pleased to Meet You” is a great introduction for the uninitiated, bold and ballsy with a chorus that encourages you to yell along. The single “Deadbeat” first turned me onto this band, and it’s lost none of its self-deprecating charm since the first time I heard it. These plenty of angsty material here to satisfy your inner emo kid, including “Goldfish” and “Supervillain.” Those darker moments are balanced with more optimistic numbers like “Change” and “Better Days.” “Go To Hell,” a collaboration with female-fronted contemporaries Yours Truly is a real treat for fans of the local scene. The album closes with the title track, the only song on the album stretching past the 4-minute mark. It’s the album’s most ambitious track, an epic rock number that gives a hint that this band can do even more than we’re hearing.
What Between You & Me have laid down on Armageddon is so much fun, but they’ve also left me excited about what their next step might be. With a three-year gap between this album and their debut effort, hopefully they won’t leave us waiting too long for the follow-up.
Images used with permission from Hopeless Records and Habit Music Co.
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