Pop punk masters are back with another fine piece of sonic artistry that will immediately grab you by the collar and refuse to let go long after this song ends. Barking Poets are one of the finest modern pop punk bands you could stumble upon in the contemporary scene nowadays, and “Change Our Ways” is more than a rock-solid proof of their dedication to the craft. Hot on the heels of previous single “Losing Contact,” their latest effort cements their position among the greats, with all those catchy vocal harmonies, marvelous guitar works, intricate basslines, and energetic drum beats immediately penetrating your listening apparatus and forcing you to dance. Perhaps “Change Our Ways” resonates with all those vital sonic ingredients that define all those great modern melodic pop-punk tracks, but you’ll unquestionably stumble upon some of the finest properties borrowed from classic punk rock, garage, alternative, skate rock, indie rock, and many more. There are many similarities with some of the greatest bands, such as The Clash, Leatherface, and The Flatliners yet Barking Poets deliver more than enough impressive signature moves, ensuring your ears that this is their unquestionably innovative, fresh, and unique sound. Their music shines with qualities that meet all the latest trends in music production while subtle touches of nostalgia lurk around. Therefore, these experimentations with various subgenres, approaches, and techniques will undoubtedly appeal not only to melodic punk rock fans but also to anyone who appreciates music performed with so much heart and soul.
Barking Poets are known for their knack for crafting catchy, memorable, engaging tunes where every vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuver plays a significant role in shaping their sound. That’s the case with this track as well. The entire band works as a singular machine, delivering some of the finest instrumentations, capable of satisfying even the pickiest listeners. As soon as you press play, vocal harmonies wrap around your listening apparatus. Passionate, sincere, confident, emotive, and powerful as usual, the vocal performance uplifts every segment and orchestrations on an entirely new level, commands attention, and makes “Change Our Ways” even more appealing to the ears. They’re subtly gritty, abrasive, raw yet incredibly melodic, seamlessly balancing low, mid, and high notes and perfectly pairing the rawness delivered by guitars. Besides decorating all those segments and instrumentations, these vocal maneuvers are also responsible for bringing more than necessary emotional depth and detail to an already complex song structure. Of course, Barking Poems also implemented additional vocal layers, back vocals, and sing-alongs for some extra anthemic vibes. In the meantime, the combination of semi-distorted and more heavily distorted chord progressions and riffs lurk around, crafting a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. These sonic maneuvers perfectly pair all those leading themes, melodies, harmonies, and other instrumentations that give this track more detail and catchiness. Barking Poets perfectly assembled these guitar interplays, thinking about even the tiniest details, nuances, and elements, so a pleasant listening experience is more than guaranteed.
Like in every true melodic punk rock band, the rhythm section plays a vital role in delivering dynamics, depth, groove, heaviness, and more power. You’ll notice how all those equally impressive, subtly distorted yet clean, profoundly detailed basslines rumble beneath the guitars, giving that extra punch that defines those chord progressions, riffs, harmonies, melodies, and themes even more. These low ends are rich, deep, dense, and heavy, as they should be, while delivering more complexity and detail to this track. The exceptional, energetic, well-accentuated drumming performance based upon cleverly assembled and dynamic beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics keeps everything in line while dictating groove and pace. It holds everything together with such precision and finesse while shining in the limelight like the remainder of the instrumentation. Barking Poets never cease to amaze. “Change Our Ways” is a meaningful, soulful, memorable, reflective melodic pop-punk song that pays homage to the artists and bands who had the strength to endure and work during the pandemic. It’s a beautiful punk rock track performed by one of the greatest pop-punk bands of our time. Therefore, head to your favorite streaming platform and listen to it loud!
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