Nashville’s Graveyard Kids have dropped their debut album Turning Heel via ANTIFUN, and after the early taste we got from “Brainrot” last year and “Box City” this year, the full record does what you want it to do: it keeps that same sense of fun going across a whole album.
That is really the key with Turning Heel. It is pop punk that remembers this stuff is supposed to be enjoyable. Catchy, energetic, a little scrappy around the edges, and never weighed down by trying to sound more important than it is.
The album title is already a win if you are into pro wrestling. “Turning heel” is one of those phrases that instantly gives the record a bit of personality, and that playful attitude fits the music perfectly. Graveyard Kids clearly know how to have fun with the identity of the band without turning it into a gimmick.
Beyond the singles, there is plenty here that keeps the album interesting. The opening track “Goodbye to you” is one of my favorites while “Running Away” has the kind of title that already feels made for a pop-punk chorus, while “Looking Out For Me” and “Don’t Call Me” show that the record has enough room to shift mood without losing its easy momentum. “Lawbreaker” is another one that fits naturally into the slightly bratty, playful character running through the album.
What I like is that the songs never feel like they are fighting each other for attention. There are hooks everywhere, but the record still flows. It has that quality where you can put it on from the beginning and just let it run rather than waiting for two or three obvious singles to come around again.
There is definitely some early 2000s pop-punk DNA in here, but it does not feel like a band desperately trying to recreate another era. The guitars are lively, the choruses are immediate, and there is enough bite in the performances to stop the whole thing from becoming too clean or sugary.
And more than anything, Turning Heel is simply a fun listen. That sounds basic, but a lot of records forget how important that can be. Sometimes you want a pop-punk album that gives you a bunch of songs you can get into immediately, makes you smile at the references, and leaves you wanting to play it again.
