Banned Fram Japan’s Matthew Earle’s lyrics are usually biting. He doesn’t hold back when he speaks his about his life, about meth, social media addiction, his sister… but this one crowns them all. Earle strays from BFJ’s usual skate punk sound and pivots to a ballad, an ode to his deceased father. His vocals sound great and you can feel the vulnerability in every word. The scene where he smokes his dad’s cig in his old bedroom is particularly heartbreaking. BFJ reaches new levels of greatness with this track, and the bravery for writing it is inspiring. I think it’s safe to say David Earle would be pretty damn proud.
Bracing post-hardcore meets festival-ready rock on the Tokyo band's sharp new EP, mixed and mastered by Will Yip (Turnstile, Title Fight). Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 8, 2024