 Kevin Nenkov live performance (July 2018)
Hailing from Englishtown, New Jersey, Screemee Freeze describe themselves as "just some sad boys making emo music."
The band uploaded their first release to Bandcamp titled, R.I.P The Cavern on August 11, 2018. Over the course of only three days, Kevin Nenkov (vox/ukulele), Eric Branchek (bass and vox on “PSVita”), and Rob Mattsson (drums and vox on “PSVita” & “QC”) were able to record, produce, and release three tracks pinpointing the frustration and confusion regarding an unsuccessful relationship. The band is a side project of Nenkov's and his other band, Beach Bully can be found here. Nenkov’s use of ukulele through overdrive and distortion, paired with his raw, organic screams, is a unique approach and contributes to the EP’s heavier and darker sound. The average listener is not able to notice the absence of guitar on the record due to the editing/recording skill of the band. Screemee Freeze’s talent is showcased through their concise, but purposeful lyrics. “PSVita” is the opening track off of R.I.P The Cavern and begins with a ten-second ukulele harmony before all hell breaks loose. The percussion kicks in and accompanies the repeated riff until the vocals are added into the mix. Each element is incorporated one at a time to create a gradual effect. The track details how one may feel disoriented and misplaced after a breakup. It highlights the journey of self-discovery while longing for some closure and the luxury of moving on. The song recognizes the challenges associated with forgetting a past love but is subtly optimistic. This track is a personal favorite of mine due to its drastic tempo change and brief breakdown towards the back half of the song. “Quick Chek Stole $18 From Me” starts off with clean vocals depicting Nenkov losing his sense of self. The comparison of a lone wolf and prey is used to strengthen his argument about how toxic this relationship was; however, he finds himself desperate and cries for this person’s help. “Show me how to be myself,
These rhetorical questions are the foundation of the track and represent how a person may feel like they lost their personal identity after a breakup. The track details the emotional toll the split may have on a person. Some may feel as if their love, effort, and time was wasted on this one individual and the realization can be draining. The second verse of the song repeats the lyrics from the first; however, the vocals are screamed and sound coarse. It reinforces Nenkov's desperate cry for help and deepens his mental conflict. The track’s final verses describe how living in the past prevents people from conquering their fears. An instrumental hodgepodge draws the track to a close, leaving listeners with one last, coherent chord.
Originally written by Joyce Manor, “Constant Headache” is the closing song off R.I.P The Cavern and, the cover is extremely well done. Sounding nearly identical to the original, Screemee Freeze hit the nail on the head with this recording. Not only do the vocals and instrumentals replicate Joyce Manor’s style, but Nenkov manages to capture the emotional turmoil manifested in Barry Johnson’s voice in the original recording of the track. Except for some minor differences in tempo, it is difficult to list any major differences between the two versions of the song. Screemee Freeze’s cover is mature and well rehearsed. They paid tribute to Joyce Manor in the EP’s description on Bandcamp stating, “also, joyce manor wrote constant headache, pls show them some love <3.” Very, very well done. Check out Screemee Freeze’s Bandcamp below and happy jamming! :)
 State Champs can cross off the first half of Vans Warped Tour off their to-do list as they inch their way across the U.S. and head down the East Coast. The pop-punk band from Albany, NY, currently signed to Pure Noise Records, has come a long way since their debut in 2011. They released their third full-length album on June 15 titled Living Proof which is packed to the brim with energetic summer anthems. This release could not be more fitting for the final cross-country run of everyone’s favorite U.S. summer festival. Reminiscent of State Champs’ 2013 album, The Finer Things, this new record develops every time you listen to it. From a first impression, the album feels like any other, ordinary pop-punk portfolio with thirteen sappy songs about love and loss, but after the 5th loop, it demonstrates that it's much more than that. The explosive guitar that erupts in the opening track, “Criminal” hooks listeners with its intensity and high spirit. “Lighting”, “Something About You”, and “Cut Through The Static” all share the same vitality and have the potential to be featured on an epic summer soundtrack with the car windows rolled down. It’s clear that State Champs played to their strengths with these select tracks and stayed inside their comfort zone with their upbeat, harmonious choruses. Both “Frozen” and “The Fix Up” are tame at the start but add character and variety to the tracklist. Lyrically, they are similar by exemplifying a crumbling relationship through Derek DiScanio’s smooth, melodic vocals. These tracks are supported by reserved instrumentals to allow the song’s soul to resonate with listeners. The music video for “Dead and Gone”, uploaded in April, has obtained over 550,000 views on YouTube (and was a Warped Tour favorite among the crowd in Holmdel, NJ). “Our Time To Go”, which accompanied the record release in mid-June, clocks in at over 490,000 views. Despite the time gap between both videos, the numbers are surprisingly close and continue to climb daily. “Mine Is Gold” is the perfect blend of enthusiasm and lyrical simplicity. It fosters the positive pop-punk nature without being exaggerated or overplayed. Easily being my favorite track off the album, it's the I’m-better-off-without-you track everyone chants while subtweeting their exs. It was one of the few new tracks that made its way onto the band’s Warped Tour setlist this summer and it was a huge success. Track 12, featuring Mark Hoppus of Blink-182, “Time Machine” feels displaced and lethargic. It is one of the album’s least popular tracks and is an anti-climactic closing when regarding the back half of the record. The track appears unnecessary and the album could stand on its own without it. The reasoning is unclear as to why State Champs chose to feature Hoppus on that song in particular when his vocals could have had much more of an impact on any other track off the record. Overall, Living Proof lives up to pop-punker’s expectations and has had an outstanding positive response since State Champs began to play the songs live back in late June. The album’s intensity is exuberant and the record provides listeners with a collective composition of the band’s best current work. State Champs will continue to play the remaining dates of the final Vans Warped Tour and hopefully announce a North America headlining tour for Living Proof within the near future.
 ***March 18 - Albany, NY @ My Place Pizza
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