Released: 18 August 2023
Epitaph
One of the biggest movers and shakers in the everchanging pop punk scene today is Florida quintet Magnolia Park. Their incredibly polished sound may seem like the band have been rubbing shoulders with all the right people to get to where they are today, but one listen to the double release, Moon Eater and Soul Eater will tell you anything but.
It feels natural to kick off this listening session with Moon Eater, probably because in the lead-up to this release most of the singles came off of this EP. ‘Homicide‘ gives us that intangible pop sensibility that was evident in Magnolia Park’s collaboration with Mayday Parade’s Derek Sanders on ‘Feel Something‘. The darkness and raw vulnerability are a heavy contrast with the deep pop synths weaving through the rockier tones.
Ever since the band’s inception, they’ve been always about collaborations. Name one artist they haven’t teamed up with, and you can bet they’ve likely worked with most musicians in the current landscape, and since Magnolia Park dropped their track with nothing, nowhere, ‘Breathing’ has been on high rotation. Much like ‘Homicide‘, this tune demonstrates the band’s huge array of influences splendidly and it is the kind of anthem we want to hear from them. Song of the Year material.
Moon Eater also sees the band dabble into metalcore territory with tracks ‘Do Or Die‘ and ‘Heartstopper‘. But while you won’t be expecting a breakdown anytime soon from these guys, both songs offer massive potential for Magnolia Park to head down a similar path as fellow Floridians A Day To Remember did early on. But if ‘Heartstopper‘ felt a little too generic nu-metal for you, then the electronic sparks emanating off ‘Unholy Heart‘ will reel you back in with its ultra-cool, edgy undertones.
The other half of Moon Eater is Soul Eater and this is straight up the more fun side of the pop punk outfit. Opening track ‘Manic‘ shines a light on what they do best and ultimately what got everyone’s head turning to these guys. It’s high-energy pop punk that reminds you of the early 2000s. Nothing wrong with that, to be honest.
Second track ‘Blud Luv‘ sees the band do a complete 360 though and sees them foray into EDM territory. No doubt it’s different, and I won’t be surprised if I hear Illenium or Said the Sky drop this into their EDC festival sets one day. However, it is ‘D4U‘ that acts as the hopeless love song for the tragics of the scene. You’ll be dancing to this one in the moshpit, that’s for sure.
In contrast, ‘L.O.V.E.’ is the pop punk anthem of this double release. Coming in at a mere two minutes and twenty seven seconds and in all its toxicity, it is the hot-headed breakup anthem that you need to move on from that destructive relationship. In saying that though, toxicity sounds best in song and this one in particular is a banger.
Final track ‘Wishful Thinking‘ is a tasty pop punk belter that allows us to celebrate the worst of us in the best way. Through its bouncy attitude, this is the effortless EP finisher that we have been waiting for. You can hear the band’s tenacity and musical diversity so clearly, and it’s this edginess they bring to this scene that keeps you hanging on for more.
Whether you prefer the hard-hitting yet subtle metal undertones of Moon Eater or the light-hearted energy of Soul Eater, Magnolia Park have remained consistent in their musical diversity. Now the question remains: are you even more excited to catch their live debut in Australia this December for Good Things Festival? After a few listens of Moon Eater and Soul Eater over the next few months, there is no doubt everyone in attendance will be getting sweaty in the pop punk pit this summer.
Rating: 9/10
Listen to Soul Eater // Moon Eater here
Review by Tamara May @citylightstam
Magnolia Park – Moon Eater EP tracklisting:
1. Homicide
2. Breathing (featuring nothing, nowhere)
3. Do Or Die (featuring Ethan Ross)
4. Unholy Heart (featuring Honey Revenge)
5. Heartstopper (featuring Grieve)
Magnolia Park – Soul Eater EP tracklisting:
1. Manic (featuring 408)
2. Blud Luv (featuring Decode)
3. D4U
4. L.O.V.E.
5. Wishful Thinking
