Finding themselves at a crossroads to continue as a band or to pack it in, Vancouver’s Chief State dusted themselves off and set out to make their most impactful album to date. Released April 17 via Mutant League Records, Keep Your Friends Closer showcases the band’s evolution and prove that their best days lie ahead.
Living out a bonafide pop-punk coming-of-age story, Chief State faced the possibility of disbanding but ultimately rebuilt themselves into a self-assured powerhouse. Unlike other bands who feel the growing pains of lineup changes (often resulting in choppy or under-realized material), Chief State have dropped a no-skip sophomore album that sounds absolutely effortless. They could have chosen tracks at random any one would have been a strong single.
“No Brakes” was the first single released from the new lineup, the album opener, and perfectly encapsulates the band’s journey to the present. A breakdown in what was believed to be a well-oiled machine leads the band into dangerously unknown territory. From near disaster, Chief State flipped it into a new opportunity. From then on, Keep Your Friends Closer bounces back and forth from nostalgia-inducing pop-punk homage to pushing into edgier, experimental territory.
Tracks like “Resonate” and “Falling” bare all the beloved pillars of Chief State’s classic pop-punk roots, and then demonstrate a more aggressive and gritty edge with tracks like “Can’t Let Go” and “Paranoia”. A special shout out for fitting the word “Bereft” into “April Showers”. Anchoring the midway point into the album is “Over It” – a track that perfectly blends an emo-tinged essence with a heavier sound. Throughout the album, Chief State incorporates the catchy hooks, clean melodies, and riff-rich arrangements that fans have come to love about the band’s sound. Where Chief State exemplifies their growth is in their lyrics. Looking inwards and finding inspiration in introspection, Keep Your Friends Closer offers an unfiltered look at the band’s struggle to keep going.
And what was it that kept Chief State alive? It was love and keeping those who you care for close.
Keep Your Friends Closer is a standout album by all metrics, and is an excellent first offering from Chief State’s new line up. Demonstrating their resolve and resilience to this project (and to each other), Keep Your Friends Closer is proof that progress is possible and longevity is well within their reach.
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Hailing from Vancouver, BC, Chief State have built a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting pop-punk exports. Blending emo-tinged grit with soaring melodies and pummeling rhythms, the band delivers heartfelt anthems rooted in unflinching honesty. With years of releases and relentless touring behind them, Chief State continue to evolve while staying true to the urgency that defines the genre.
