New Bruises "Chock Full of Misery" 12" LP (Kiss of Death//No Idea)

Chock Full of Misery, the long-awaited and long-postponed new record from Tampa’s New Bruises, is a masterclass in punk rock maturation. From time spent in the ’90s punk trenches of the northeast to their eventual migration to the more hospitable climate of the Gulf Coast of Florida, the band would be considered elder statesmen if it weren’t for the fact that they’re staying up later than you folding records, then up hours before your alarm drinking all the coffee in your house. While still rooted in the anthemic pop-punk of their ’90s roots, New Bruises have cracked their sound wide open on Chock Full of Misery, picking apart each song and putting it back together one piece at a time. The result is a record that hits harder while experimenting with greater dynamics and sonic left turns, keeping the full-steam-ahead feel of early Jawbreaker while infusing it with the nuance of Tim-era Replacements. It’s sort of the band’s Dear You, but without all the smooth vocals and kids slashing their tires. There’s spacious slow-burners like “Five Questions” alongside catchy barn-storming jams like “One for the Looper,” a track-by-track lesson in keeping your sound eclectic while maintaining a darkly distinct tone throughout. (kiss of death)