You know that feeling when a band just gets it? Not just the energy, but the architecture of a great song? That’s exactly what Cleveland, Ohio’s Model Martel has delivered with their new full-length, A Thousand Couple Times. It’s a carefully calculated blend of melodic punk rock, indie punk, and emo, executed with such precision and finesse that it redefines what “melodic” truly means. Model Martel successfully combines some of the finest properties of these three genres. They take the driving, immediate energy of melodic punk rock, fuse it with the thoughtful, structural smarts of indie punk, and infuse the entire project with the emotional honesty of modern emo, resulting in a polished and deeply personal sound. They give you the velocity you need for a late-night drive, but also the lyrical and harmonic depth required for serious, repeat listening. They’re building anthems on a foundation of genuine musical intelligence. The lead vocals are marvelous, clean, strong, and intensely melodic. Model Martel offers a vocal performance that is pure and powerful, carrying the weight of the emotion through flawless pitch and delivery. These clean vocal harmonies allow the sentiment of the lyrics to cut through the surrounding instrumental aggression with perfect clarity. It invites the listener directly into the emotional core of the record. This clarity is crucial, making the emotional themes so direct and effective.
It’s also good to mention occasional sing-alongs. They are huge, memorable gang vocals designed to transform the chorus into an anthemic moment, even if you’re just listening alone in your car. These sing-alongs are flawlessly timed and executed, turning private melancholy into a collective shout of strength. They provide the necessary cathartic release that elevates the tracks from great songs to unforgettable anthems. The guitars are where the emphasis on precision and finesse really comes into play. You get marvelous power chords, but they are delivered with such rhythmic precision and sonic finesse that they feel perfectly placed, never just hammered out. This controlled aggression is balanced by a wealth of additional guitar themes, melodies, and harmonies. The guitarist weaves intricate, layered melodies that dance above the power chords, adding surprising harmonic depth and complexity that speak directly to their indie punk influences. The basslines are consistently warm-sounding, providing a crucial, velvety foundation for the entire sound. When you have power chords and layers of melodic themes flying around, you need the low end to ground the track, and the bassist does this perfectly. The warm tone adds a deep, physical presence to the music, preventing the aggression from sounding too thin or brittle. Furthermore, they are supportive and detailed, locking in with the drums to provide an unshakeable, complex, and deeply satisfying groove. The drummer is the dynamic regulator for the entire record, showcasing a remarkable range that keeps the album constantly engaging. The performance fluidly ranges from moderate rhythmic patterns, which underscore the more thoughtful, indie-leaning verses, to more energetic beats that propel the anthemic choruses and faster punk sections. This control over tempo and intensity is key to the album’s variety. The drumming is tight, creative, and highly impactful, using expertly placed breaks and fills to enhance the groove and dictate the emotional pace. The drummer makes sure that whether the band is leaning into emo contemplation or pure punk rock speed, the energy is flawless and the speed is unconditional.
A Thousand Couple Times is a defining album for Model Martel, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice melodic brilliance for punk rock dynamics. This album is a cohesive, finely-tuned machine that successfully synthesizes emotional honesty with technical precision. It captures the energy of the best of the late ’90s underground while sounding completely fresh and vital today. It is a record that deserves to be studied by any band trying to successfully walk the line between melodic punk rock, emo, and indie. Model Martel delivers powerful, catchy hooks wrapped in intelligent, dynamic compositions. If you’re looking for a highly refined, deeply emotive, and utterly obligatory addition to your collection, look no further. This one’s a keeper. Head to Snappy Little Number for more information about ordering.
Thoughts Words Action 