South Arcade - 2005

The year 2005 was 20 years ago, or is it right now? South Arcade’s new EP “2005” brings back Y2K with six high-energy punk-rock tracks. 

After going viral on TikTok and Instagram, the English band has been compared to other bands like Linkin Park and solo artists like Avril Lavigne.

For this EP, the band, made up of singer Harmony Cavelle, guitarist Harry Winks, bassist Ollie Green, and drummer Cody Leigh Jones, choose an aesthetic to perfectly match the name of the project and give listeners what they might have been searching for for 20 years. 

2005

The title track kicks off this EP with a nostalgic sound the band was after. Some literal lyrics like “Did your CD break? You could try spin mine” blast listeners right back to the past. Winks guitar riffs run seamlessly from verse to chorus making for a smooth listen. The pre-chorus is a fun break as Cavelle sings “Does someone want to tell me what is going on?”.  A great start to the EP, making listeners want for more. Luckily, they’re in for a treat.

Moth Kids

Moth Kids has a sinister tone to it, something not heard very much on this EP. It can also be interpreted as a sort of anthem with the refrain repeating “Misunderstood, overlooked, tired and hopeless, they could never control us”. The song invites the listener to join the ‘moth kids’, a group that can help you out of all your troubles. “Said ‘Darling the only drug we need is us. Only the moth kids know where the heart is. You fell down, sank beneath the sound 'cause you've had enough (You belong to us). Only thе moth kids (Can help you survive) know wherе the heart is (We know what you hide)” This track is definitely a highlight on the EP and continues the addicting energy. 

HOW 2 GET AWAY WITH MURDER

The high energy doesn’t slow down with this track. HOW 2 GET AWAY WITH MURDER  is a classic revenge track about getting back at someone that’s hurt you. There’s almost no subtlety here, the protagonist is going to kill “Mr. Nice Guy”. During an instrumental break near the end of the song you can hear a car key, car swerving, and then a chainsaw, cleverly conveying how the murder was carried out. Another clever detail about the song is the use of minor notes in the chorus specifically in the line “Make you wanna scream, say a prayer but you're messing with the wrong team”. Minor notes are usually used to convey those negative emotions like fear and dread. You certainly wouldn’t want to be on South Arcade’s bad side with this one. This song is definitely a high point on this EP.

Stone Cold Summer

This track immediately starts off with a guitar riff that you’ll catch yourself humming at random times during the day. One of the highs of “2005” is Cavelle’s incredible vocals. She has that raspinessess perfect for pop-punk. With incredible inflection and emotion, it will be amazing to see her career unfold. Cavelle’s voice conveys so much emotion as she sings the chorus, “But if she's small town heavy she might not be ready on this stone cold summer night but if you just let me steal you from the city of your store-bought paradise then we might be alright”. This track is a quick but unforgettable one. 

Riptide

Riptide is like shaking somebody’s shoulders and screaming at them to listen to you. The protagonist of the song can see that their friend is struggling but they won’t let them in. “You're killing on the inside, but you need to know I care, I'll run into the riptide any time you want me there” is a profound lyric that shows that the protagonist would do anything for their friend. The lyricism of portraying someone who might be struggling is profound, with other lyrics like “You're bleeding baby, but it's in your mind. Think it'd be better if you stay the night. I wanna save you, so give me a sign. You keep on saying that you'd rather die” painting a haunting image in listeners minds that might hit close to home. As well as great storytelling and lyrics, the songs guitar and drums continue to impress as they’ve been doing the entire time. The key change during the last chorus is an infectious hook that will be stuck in your head for days. 

Nepo Baby

For the closing track, South Arcade sings about a topic that’s been hot for the last couple years. The concept of nepo babies can be frustrating to many people and South Arcade lets out their frustration with this track. The frustration is clear as day during the pre-chorus when Cavelle sings, “And so help me God, I'm down to my last nerve”.


South Arcade proves that they’re the next big thing in the pop-punk scene. They’re infectious guitar riffs and mesmerizing vocals which have you relistening to “2005” over and over again. 

@southarcade

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