Having come together through Craigslist and bonded through a mutual love for Microwave and Modern Baseball, Oklahoma City’s Ben Quad certainly sounds and feels at home among their influences on their second album, ‘Wisher’. Its arrival comes off a productive few years for the quartet. 2022’s debut album, ‘I’m Scared That’s All There Is’ received praise from noteworthy indie tastemakers, embracing fourth and fifth wave emo into their musical fabric. Last year’s Ephemera’ EP saw them take a different route, leaning towards more screamo. Nevertheless, it saw them be touted to be the “next big thing in emo”. Even if they’re classing themselves as “post-emo”.
For those who have followed Ben Quad, their Pure Noise debut comes with a hint of expectations. However, with the help of producer Jon Markson (The Story So Far, Drug Church), ‘Wisher’ captures a band tied to their roots, with hints of exploration. For example, ‘Very Big in Sheboygan’ utilises bright synth keys among its springy pop-punk tone. While there is a warm driftiness to ‘West of West’ with Microwave’s Nathan Hardy providing a vocal bite. Likewise, ‘All Your Luck’ highlights the quartet’s mellow side, without sacrificing their roots. As a banjo twinkles away in the distance, impactful drums and layered harmonies provide a reassuring anchor.
Yet Ben Quad know their bread and butter is in optimistic emo, that stylistic nods to its Midwestern roots. ‘Did You Decide to Skip Arts and Crafts?’ (featuring Treaty Oak Revival’s Sam Canty) thrives thanks to Isaac Young’s punctual drum work and the vocal back-and-forth between Sam Wegrzynski and bassist Henry Shields. Meanwhile, Sweet Pill’s Zayna Youssef adds soaring harmonies to the jagged onslaught that ‘You Wanted Us, You Got Us’ provides. Young’s low-end drums, Edgar Viveros’s twisting guitar parts, and Wegrzynski’s screams give the track plenty of energy.
One of Wegrzynski’s aims for ‘Wisher’ was to lyrically savour life’s small victories. Shifting away from the existential questions of past releases, Sam takes the opportunity to write with hope, often writing about a distant love. Whether that be on the bittersweet opening of ‘What Fer?’ or lines like “I only wish that you could see you like I do” on ‘All Your Luck’. Even when they’re touching on themes of loss and grief on the lively ‘Painless,’ Wegrzynski constantly offers a hand of support.
It’s not a complete optimism fest. Moments of self-doubt and reflection cut through the brightness, grounding the optimism in something real. ‘It’s Just A Title’ sees Wegrzynski’s honest introspection on full show, questioning “Am I worth it?” among bouts of paranoia and self-worth. On ‘You Wanted Us, You Got Us,’ he recognises destructive patterns. Album closer, ‘I Hate Cursive and I Hate All of You,’ wallows in closure, emotional anguish and loss. It allows them to balance the tender verses with raw aggression and soaring melodies, neatly showing their full range.
Throughout ‘Wisher’, Wegrzynski writes with empathy and emotional awareness, acknowledging his flaws and regrets while recognising growth – both his own and others’. The result is an album that finds strength in vulnerability and optimism in imperfection.
Ultimately, ‘Wisher’ sees Ben Quad wrestle with relatable grief, doubt, and distance, but it leans towards the light. It’s an emotionally fluent and musically confident step forward. Rooted in an often urgent brand of emo, the quartet show a willingness to grow. That can be heard in the melodically driven choruses scattered throughout, as well as the subtle quips, such as electronic glitch effects. In terms of present-day emo (or “post-emo”), ‘Wisher’ comfortably enhances Ben Quad‘s high position among the new wave of bands emerging from the genre.
‘Wisher’ by Ben Quad is released on November 14th on Pure Noise Records.
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