After nearly fifteen years of silence, The Arrivals are back. The Chicago punk rockers return with “Just Like My Brother,” a new single released through Recess Records, and it sounds less like a reunion stunt and more like a band picking up exactly where they left off.
The Arrivals were never about polish or trends. Their place in the Chicago scene was built on sharp songwriting, emotional weight, and a melodic edge that never softened the impact. That identity is still intact here. “Just Like My Brother” carries the same urgency that defined their earlier records, but with the perspective that only time can bring.
Musically, the song sits firmly in melodic punk territory. Driving guitars, steady rhythm, and a chorus that lands without trying to be oversized. It is not flashy and it does not chase modern production tricks. Instead, it leans into clarity and restraint, letting the song speak on its own terms.
The lyrics feel reflective without becoming nostalgic. There is a sense of looking backward while standing firmly in the present, touching on family, distance, and identity without spelling everything out. It is personal, but never sentimental.
What makes this return work is how natural it feels. “Just Like My Brother” does not sound like a band trying to sound young again. It sounds like a band that never forgot who they were. The melodies still cut, the emotion still lands, and the song carries weight without forcing it.
Fifteen years is a long gap, but The Arrivals do not treat this release like a comeback announcement. It feels more like a continuation. One new chapter added quietly to a catalog that always valued substance over noise.
