With Confidence – Love and Loathing

As predictable as pop-rock is as a genre nowadays, there’s still no denying that it’s often a greatly enjoyable listen – even if you know exactly what you’re going to get. On With Confidence’s new record Love and Loathing, that’s pretty much the case.

Following up the group’s wickedly upbeat debut album Better Weather, Love and Loathing serves as a continuation of the light-weight pop-punk you come to expect from the three-piece, without needing to head into any new territory. The band’s decision to stick to what they do best is exemplified by the overall lyrical themes of the record, which they described in a recent tweet as "a look into modern romance and a reflection on how we as individuals learn and grow amongst it." Whilst the lyrics tend to focus on the negative side of relationships, the bouncy beats, bass and chugging guitars on tracks like That Something and Jaded suggest the complete opposite, carrying a supremely sugar-coated, summery feel.

The record loses a bit of energy as it passes the mid-point, and at times you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re listening to an old All Time Low album, as softer, more pop-focused tracks like The Turnaround and Bruise highlight some of With Confidence’s lighter influences. But even so, you can’t fault the band’s ability to write choruses that wire themselves into your brain – the whole record is packed full of them.

It’s a similar collection of songs to their debut, and again has more hooks than your garden shed. Aided by punchy, polished production from Mike Green that paints a glossy sheen across their sound, Love and Loathing sees the Aussie trio continue cooking up their successful recipe for pop-rock songs that could well set them as the newest poster-boys for the scene.

Listen to: That Something, Sing To Me, Jaded