Halfway Down pop punk review: a Growing Album worth hearing

Technical Sheet

Genre: Pop Punk / Easycore
Date de sortie: Waterfall release
Label: Independent (St. Paul, MN)
Website: click here
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ / 5

The magic of running a music blog is regularly stumbling upon gems that blow your mind. Halfway Down is one of them. Discovered through a Spotify playlist suggestion, I was immediately hooked by a style that checks every box of the best up-and-coming bands. Naturally, I took a deep dive into their ongoing album release.

“Ongoing” because Halfway Down isn’t just dropping a 12-track block to let it gather dust on Spotify. They are building their debut album right before our eyes, track after track, using the increasingly popular “Waterfall” release method.

In terms of aura, it holds up. Artistically, it’s a risky bet on final consistency. It’s strategic, but does the artistic unity survive the format? For now, yes—even if, like any album, the band doesn’t escape having a few tracks that are less memorable than others.

Speaking of tracks, while I love the majority of them, I’ve already identified several bangers you absolutely need to blast at full volume!

Make It Up: A hard-hitting track with infectious choruses!

It’s a perfect blend of 2010s pop-punk nostalgia and modern production. The contrast between the “airier” verses and the explosive chorus is a masterclass in mixing.

We’re not just talking “fast & loud” here; there’s real craftsmanship in the vocal textures. It’s clean, it’s sharp—not a single note out of place.

Buried: This is where they show their teeth.

This track solidifies their “Dynamic & Sad” label. Cameron’s drumming is the engine here. You can feel the Metalcore influence in the aggression of the shells and the heaviness of the guitars. It’s dark, it’s dense, and it deals with mental suffocation with a sincerity often lacking in the genre.

With the bridge, the band proves they aren’t just Blink-182 copycats. There’s a dramatic tension that builds to a climax that deserves to be played in a mosh pit at boiling point.

Dead Inside: My personal favorite!

The most “direct” track and arguably the most effective for me. Gritty rhythm, introspective lyrics (“Dead Inside” isn’t just a catchy title, it’s a diagnosis). This is surgical Pop Punk: a punchy intro, a verse that sets the urgency, and a chorus built to be screamed in unison at shows… or alone in your room.

The balance between the “Pop” side (the vocal melody is ultra-catchy) and the “Punk” side (the guitar tone remains organic and raw) is spot on.

All these bangers can be found in the “News Pop Punk Rock Universe” playlist.

As mentioned before, the risk of this “kit” album format is losing the common thread between the first and last tracks released. For now, the coherence holds, but some tracks fall slightly short in terms of emotional impact compared to earlier releases, which, in my opinion, affects the overall feel of the band’s work.

On the sound quality front, I must admit I’m genuinely surprised by this totally DIY indie approach. They know what they’re doing. The mixing and production are modern and “in-your-face”: the vocals are crystal clear, but the guitars retain that raw grit necessary to avoid sounding too “radio-pop.” The Easycore influence is felt throughout the album, and it rings true.

It’s clean, it’s solid, and it hits exactly where a modern Pop Punk fan expects. No fillers, just raw energy.

The Final Verdict

Stream it on loop. Essential for anyone who thinks current Pop Punk has become too “pop” and not “punk” enough.

Recommended for:

Fans of The Story So Far and Four Year Strong.
Those who love watching a band build their discography in real-time.

The album is still growing. I’ll update this review when the next drop shakes things up.

Listen to the album here:

If you liked this album, Sum 41’s latest record will definitely speak to you too. (Re)discover it here!