Album Review: Waste My Heart by The Raging Nathans (by Rich Bailey)

Released on the excellent Rad Girlfriend Records and hot on the heels of ‘Oppositional Defiance’, this is The Raging Nathans’ fourth album and second in 12 months. Melodic Hardcore/Pop Punk/Punk Rock – this offering has it all; for fans of Dopamines, Copyrights, Methodones and poppier Bad Religion.

Album opener and title track ‘Waste My Heart’ is reminiscent of Coaster era NOFX – especially the vocal delivery – and is an excellent indication of where the whole album is going as it sets the tone for the rest of the record: inventive guitar riffs, pounding drums and great basslines, all at breakneck speed.

‘Freedom’ is next. At less than two minutes this isn’t even the shortest track on the album, but what a belter; anthemic chorus with a classic pop-punk vibe.

‘I Could Never Fall In Love With You’ is pure pop-punk; one repeated verse for 3 ½ minutes reminds me of End Of The Century era Ramones. A great musical bridge in the middle with intricate guitar work, this shows that the Nathans have matured greatly over the years and feel more than comfortable putting out a song like this.

Fourth track ‘Wide Awake’ kicks in like the beginning of the soundtrack to Friends but quickly deviates into a melodic hardcore track about not being able to sleep due to the ongoing stress of nightmares.

‘Out Of Town’ has a great power chord riff and pounding drums with melancholic lyrics about friendship and how much it’s depended upon: “…further with every step; wondering what’s next; but I’ll never forget that friend of mine.” Great stuff.

‘Remember’ and ‘Cemetery Drive’ flash by in an explosion of pounding drums and excellent, inventive guitar riffs. A great juxtaposition between melodic hardcore and pop-punk.

‘Overworked’ is a lament about the world of work, the mindless drudgery of clocking on and never getting paid your full worth and trying to decide whether what you do is actually worth it: “…does it matter at the end of the day or are we just wasting our time.”

‘Tempus Fuck It’ is a dark offering that has lyrics and melody not dissimilar to Rise Against.

‘New Direction’ is tight and melodic, with drums and bass at the forefront with catchy, hardcore riffs. It has unapologetic, harmonious lyrical delivery about no longer being rudderless and to stop drifting through life.

‘Shadow Of Youth’ is the shortest track on the LP and is a hardcore rant about an unnamed entity: “You’re a fuck, I hope you choke; your throat closes, you turn blue; so fucking die with a hole in your head; and every word is true.” Great guitar work to end the track.

Album closer ‘Beginning Of The end’ (great title for the last track on the LP) is about the end of a relationship. Drums lead the song with inventive lead breaks and guitar riffs in the bridge.

From the blurb on Bandcamp: ‘They’re prolific, unapologetic and “Waste my Heart” cements their legacy as the last great punk band.’ Not sure everyone would agree, but they’re certainly getting close.

Stream and download Waste My Heart on Bandcamp here.

Like The Raging Nathans on Facebook here.

This review was written by Rich Bailey.