I’m going to brand Postage as anxiety punk. It’s fast, intense and it feels on the verge of collapse at any moment. The record itself is 10 songs and plays under 20 minutes -- I suspect it might fit on a 7”. It’s mostly melodic-style punk with an upbeat tempo and a mix of that anxious sound and melodic singalongs that give a bit of a comfort zone. The drumming plays a bit role in that anxious sound, which keeps it from falling into the familiar genre traps singalong punk, while the vocals feel highly personal and relatable with a somewhat desperate cadence that really hits home.
The band’s first record, fittingly named LP1, hit similar tones. This time it feels little more rattled: less melody and more (intentionally) disjointed. While I really like songs like “Insomnia,” “Euphoria,” and “Amniesia,” this approach would get too similar if repeated often. So the band nicely mixes it up. “Asphyxia” treads the line between slower tempo and singalong ’90-style melodies, while “Hysteria” applies a ballad-like vocal delivery atop a marching beat. Sometimes they sneak some discordant elements in when the tempo slows, and its these curveballs that really make Postage unique.
Meanwhile, “Nostalgia” is one of the more melodic tracks, and it playfully reminds me of “80-85” off LP1. As you can clearly see, there’s also a bit of a naming convention happening here. The band is seemingly very self-aware, then ending the record with “Paranoia,” which curiously led off LP1. I’d summarize the sound as appealing to punk music fans who also like garage, lo-fi and noisier arrangements, but still want that adrenaline rush and a personal, emotive touch.
