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Ever since the release of their debut album, Canadian punk band PUP have quickly become one of the most exciting punk rock acts in the world today. Their catalogue of searing and raucous anthems have built a foundation for them that with each album release have been able to build upon and get better and better each time. Their fifth album, Who Will Look After The Dogs? adds to their near flawless discography, feeling like a culmination of the bubbling concoction of the previous four albums to create something truly excellent. Whilst the subject matters throughout the album tackle heavy topics, most notably the album tackles frontman Stephen Babcock’s relationships with his band mates, former lovers and even himself to deliver one 2025’s great albums. It’s cathartic, hard hitting yet hopeful and is easily one of PUP’s greatest achievements yet.
Opening track No Hope is a barn storming effort that will blow away whatever cobwebs you have and bring you back into the world of PUP which is a whirlwind of chaos, screeching riffs and fun choruses. Lasting just under two minutes, it sets the standard of what’s to come, strap yourselves in because you’re in for a ride. A grungey, rough around the edges track follows in Olive Garden, a sure fire hit for when the album comes out. A track written from the point of view of a young Stephen Babcock, it will relate to anyone who often looks back at mistakes they made as a youngster and often wonder ‘what if’ if events had gone a different way to the way they did back then. However this song compliments the main theme of the album which is all about growth and becoming comfortable with who you are and how you’ve got to that point.
Concrete comes next and feels like a classic PUP track already. The sneering and snarky attitude that comes with so many songs of their catalogue shines through here amidst the melodic fray. In what is one of many highlights, Get Dumber serves as one of the album’s best tracks. Featuring the wonderful, Jeff Rosenstock, it builds on the previous three tracks and feels absolutely huge. Both Babcock and Rosenstock bounce off of each other wonderfully alongside the rest of the band, seemingly in the form of their lives creating an inferno of racket which will be truly insane live.
The cheerfully titled Hunger For Death is a great little track, opening with another relatable lyric of “fuck everyone on this planet” and feels like it could be a swing song with its three/four timings, that is until the guitar kicks in and reminds you that this is indeed a PUP song. Needed To Hear It follows suit with a fun chorus that is very much an ear worm and sticks with you a little while after hearing it. After a brief respite in the chaotic nature of the track, Paranoid brings it all back round again, incorporating a more hardcore sound that will definitely appeal to those into heavier music and will definitely hit hard on their upcoming tour. As the approach to album’s end begins, it does have a more depressing feel to it, represented with Falling Out Of Love which feels a little hopeless as Babcock cries “I think that I’ll get used to it” but the raw emotions of the song are what make it a stand out track of the album before ending suddenly with “nothing is enough” echoing in our ears as you feel a little empty hearing it.
Hallways is up next to bat and once again serves quite a bleak outlook on life, written after a break up, you can feel the true and raw emotions from Babcock which truly tug on the heart strings. Lyrics that feature the album’s title like “I can’t die yet because who will look after the dogs?” and “when one door closes, it might never open, there might be no more doors” hit hard, but highlight how mature and honest Babcock is on this record, baring all for everyone to hear and also relate to. Cruel and Best Revenge go hand in hand as the album before the album reaches its crescendo, with the latter featuring one of the albums best moments lyric wise with the best revenge is living well and I’ve been living like shit” over some happy sounding chords that work as a fun juxtaposition with each other. Shut Up brings the album to end almost as a solo track as it’s just Babcock and his guitar. It ends the record on a dour note, it’s moving and brings the feels before descending into another huge chorus before the abrupt ending closes the show.
Whilst this album does pummel you with its variety of emotions on show, it proves to show why PUP are held in the regard they are. It’s more than a suitable addition to their back catalogue and definitely is one of their better works to date. Whilst it is partly full of despair, it also is an album packed full of hope. We are seeing this band at their most vulnerable and mature as they face their own demons and lay them out for us to see. There’ll be plenty of fans who are thankful for this record, it may just be what people need to see that whilst there is a lot of doom and gloom in the world, there are always people who have your back. It’s one hell of a way to announce you’re back after three years away.
Rating: 8/10
Who Will Look After The Dogs? is out now via Little Dipper/Rise Records.
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The post ALBUM REVIEW: Who Will Look After The Dogs? – PUP appeared first on Distorted Sound Magazine.
