REVIEW: Stand Atlantic - GODBREATH
For over a decade now the norms of pop-punk have been repeatedly questioned and challenged by Australian 4-piece STAND ATLANTIC, a group that would prove to be relentless songwriters and performers as they were almost constantly on tour while managing to put out full length albums bi-annually that only grew more and more ambitious. Their first LP, 2018’s Skinny Dipping turned heads in the pop-punk scene with its down-to-earth themes and undeniable catchiness, often a fan favourite, but each new release turned up the heat, with their previous LP WAS HERE being their loudest, angriest project to date. GODBREATH, the next addition to the band’s discography, continues to lean into a heavier, alternative rock style, but is a distinct switch up thematically, serving as a beacon of victory for the band, allowing themselves to take a more carefree, confident approach. Clarity is the key word to describe this record, the coming to terms with emotions and experiences both good and bad, and the refusal to comply with others’ expectations in a noisy, infectious escapade.
Fiercely kicking off the album is LUCID, a fiery banger full of raw emotion and a kickass beat. Vocalist Bonnie Fraser furiously belts the lyrics, which she wrote to be bluntly about experiencing self-sabotage, channelling that frustration and struggle to escape destructive patterns into her performance. Providing an irresistible hook is guitarist David Potter and bassist Miki Rich, paired with punchy drums by Jonno Panichi in a brilliantly fun manner to start the album. Following this is the more upbeat track, and most recent single, NEXT2U, a catchy bop that serves to be both a touching love song and a heartfelt message to people close to the band that they must leave behind during tours. The lead single for the album, Velcro, follows this, a brighter, luscious sounding love song that still incorporates the band’s signature power. Fraser's singing has a softer tone than normal, reflecting on the vocalist’s vulnerability on the song, as she states, “it’s the most honest thing I’ve written in a long time”. As she further admits, much of STAND ATLANTIC’s music has been about heartbreak, so this is a much-needed positive change of tone. Each song up until now was released as a single, effectively introducing the warmer feel of the new release to fans.
Immediately kicking back into gear is SO COOL, a super fun, venom filled song, with Fraser sounding unstoppable as she is backed up by an arena rocking beat. This track is short and to the point, establishing dominance and assuring the listener that this band still love their heavy bangers. The badass energy of the speaker mocks people who are full of themselves and act more important than their peers, reflecting the warped perception of themselves. Favourite Flavour gives us pure vibes, the STAND ATLANTIC we know and love, catchy production, a potent hook and charismatic vocals, while being another cheerful love song as opposed to the more depressing nature we would expect. This energy is continued into finger, leaning into pop elements as a more lowkey earworm rather than a hair thrashing hit, keeping the structure simple and easy to get along with. d.L.M.A gives a glimpse into the band’s more adventurous side with some captivating production moments, returning to their heavier side along with harsher vocals, meaner riffs and well-placed drum fills. Throughout the chorus Fraser cleverly has a casual listener think she is saying “don’t leave me alone”, but with closer inspection the word ‘don’t’ is used to close a previous lyric, and the brief pause within the words makes it clear she is rather demanding to be left alone in some pretty stylish word play, also hinted at in the song title.
The remaining single for the album is EDGE OF VEGAS, a tender, pretty song that once more sees Fraser opening up, singing about chasing a dream that’s just out of reach, and having nobody to lean on when the exhaustion sets in. The soft guitar tones and desperate vocals hammer in the emotional vulnerability expressed here. If you’re feeling worn down and need a pick me up, the next track, teeth, has got you covered, with an immediately catchy hook, dreamy vocal runs and spitting rage. This track is a middle finger to manipulative, compulsive liars, and has no trouble at all forcing you to rock along. HeadRush bounces back the energy by being a sweet, bubbly track with lyrics to match, a punchy love song fit for sunset drives with your partner. With abundant charm and a carefree atmosphere, it’s a feel-good jam to lift the spirits of the listener as we approach the closer: Gimme A Show. As you might expect, the band bring back the power for the final track, but rather than going all out, the tone is quite melancholic, wrapping up their most honest, exposed record with a suitably bittersweet performance. It seems to portray the group finding their freedom from expectations, from labels and crowds that seek to control their artwork, and saying, “this is what we want to make, and we love it whether you do or not”, a position and mindset that takes a lot of courage to gift yourself, but it’s absolutely where STAND ATLANTIC deserve to be.
Score: 9/10
GODBREATH will be released on October 23rd 2026 via Virgin Music.
Words: Paul Cutts
Photos: Nikki Haney
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