It’s not often I find myself lost for words, but Anchor Down’s latest single following a two-year break from releasing music has really got me in my feelings. The pop-punk powered record 25 takes a look back over the past decade since the Stafford-based trio formed in 2012, and encapsulates the resilience, growth and self-discovery that seems to come all at once and out of nowhere in our mid-20s.
And before I tell you about their newest sonic offering, let’s take a quick look at the Anchor Down timeline.
Jonny Price, Danny Taylor and Tom Hewitt met at the age of 14, when the new wave of pop punk was really taking off, forming Anchor Down and relentlessly gigging the scene for three years, including shows with WSTR, Oceans Ate Alaska and Homebound.
Jonny told The Leopheard: “We split up as we were all moving on to uni and moving to different parts of the country, all doing other projects in the meantime. In 2018, we got back together to play a few shows for fun and release a single called “Family Name”, selling out the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham for a reunion show and getting shown some love on the single from Handguns, one of my favourite bands. We went quiet over the covid period again but we decided this year to start doing some more shows for fun and write and record some new music every now and then.”
Fast forward to 2023, the lads are turning 25 and as such, have coined it for the name of their latest release. The first song they’ve written in ‘years’ Jonny says it’s about ‘coming out of a dark period in your life and realising that you’re finally happy again, thanks to yourself and the people around you.’ What that results in is a beautifully raw, authentic record fuelled by their DIY drive, infused with the spirit of pop punk predecessors like The Story So Far and Real Friends.
The single opens with a warm and inviting guitar riff that serves as the heartbeat of the track. This comforting and almost familiar melody becomes the canvas for the emotional journey of the song to unfold upon. Jonny’s vocals carry an earnestness that tugs at the heartstrings, a gravelliness that displays a maturity and passionate extended notes that create a dynamic soundscape that’s as cathartic as it is invigorating.
25 is poignant in its introspection and candid storytelling. The verses navigate the struggles of losing your sense of self and that desperation to become your own person, while the chorus delivers an uplifting punch with its catchy and painfully relatable lyrics: “Who would have thought that I would be alive by the time I hit 25? Is this what it feels like to be happy for the first time?”
The band self-recorded the release at Lower Lane Studios, where many will know Jonny from. He’s the man behind the production of many a Leopheard-reviewed single, including Thieves Asylum, Genius of the Crowd and Silver State, mix and mastering 25 himself, too. “ It’s the most proud I think we’ve ever been of our own music,” he added “and I think it’s a great representation of where we’re at in our lives at the minute.”
The track has been skillfully pieced together, effortlessly transitioning from slow and heartfelt sections to powerful, soaring lines, Tom’s drums meticulously placed within the mix, intricate basslines masterfully woven with some striking vocal harmonies and overlapping backing. It’s incredibly polished, every attention to detail carefully curated, while still retaining that element of DIY effort that is synonymous with the pop-punk genre, adding a layer of authenticity that resonates deeply with their ethos.
“That’s what this band is really about,” said Jonny. “DIY attitude and just having fun with your best friends, not taking ourselves too seriously and creating some cool shit together.”
This single feels like a triumphant return to form for Anchor Down, a testament to their perseverance and love for creating music that speaks from the heart. It’s a song that epitomises the very essence of the pop punk genre – captivating melodies, honest lyrics, and an undeniable sense of camaraderie that results in a relatable anthem of hope.
Listen to 25 by Anchor Down here:
