The Welsh punk rock band Neck Deep released their fourth studio album, All Distortions Are Intentional, on July 24, nearly three years after their previous album and this project culminated eight years of the band’s development. Fans can notice a major difference in the quality of production and each member’s individual skill from the first album to this recent release. 

A trained ear will quickly pick up the perfection of Dani Washington’s drums; the unique and steady rhythms bring out the best in the melodies without overpowering the vocals. Furthermore, Ben Barlow, the lead singer, demonstrates his melodic mastery, steady tone, and vocal range with his distinct, high pitch during most of the songs, until “Quarry,” the short interlude with low, dull vocals and lyrics that emphasize later upbeat tones. 

As band members have explained during interviews, All Distortions Are Intentional is a concept album that tells the story of two broken characters who meet each other and fall in love. At first, it is difficult to identify a clear story, but the messages within the overarching story and individual lyrics resonate with the “Holden Caulfield” type of person – the classic punk rock fan who does not want to conform with society. 

The album’s high points, in terms of both energy and meaning, are found in the beginning and end of the album. The opener, “Sonderland,” introduces the narrator’s fantasy world, where he escapes from “These strange times that we live in.” The listener is then taken through a story of two resilient characters who overcome struggles together.

Finally, “Pushing Daisies” is the perfect closure song that reflects the album’s anti-society themes and acknowledges the universal truth that life is temporary, so everyone should make the most out of it and improve their own world. Hence, “we all end up pushing daisies, and that’s the way it is.”