Anxious Further Progress Their Sound And Make Their Name Known With ‘Bambi’

Connecticut-based emo band Anxious have returned with their second full-length album, ‘Bambi’. This marks their first full release since 2022’s ‘Little Green House’ LP. This band has really start to come up on people’s radar for the last few years, touring among the likes of The Wonder Years, Knuckle Puck, and Hot Mulligan. Their second effort fully shows why they’ve been up and coming in the best possible ways, showing their roots in emo and punk…but also exploring their ability to branch out on sound.

The record opens with a pretty signature sounding song for this band, with “Never Said”. It really sets the tone really nicely for the entirety of this album, where their punk roots show with a bit of a melodic touch. The vocals by vocalist Grady Allen are very reminiscent of Title Fight, another constant influence for this band. I really love the guitar tone, especially during the second verse of this song. It’s got such a good balance of soft and crunchy tones guitar wise throughout, which doesn’t stop here.

We’re followed up with one of the best tracks on this record, with “Bambi’s Theme”. It really keeps the vibe set by the opening track very alive and well. I love the back and forth vocals here by Grady and guitarist Dante Melluci, it’s great and distinct for this band. The chorus here makes me feel super nostalgic when it comes to this kind of music, as it’s on the softer side. It’s also got a great bridge, and it just feels like Anxious is getting better at songwriting on this record. Plus, you really can’t go wrong with layered vocals.

It’s followed up with another highlight from this record and the third single, with “Some Girls”. This one definitely gives off the most summer vibes off the album, it’s just fun and dives headfirst into the melodic side of this band in the best way. The vocals sound so pretty on a song like this, kind of melancholy as well. This song is also the best example to show off what this band is capable in further growing their sound, and showcasing their talents fully on display. It also includes one of the best sections of the album here with this bridge, so good and catchy.

We reach the first single of the record, and one of this band’s best songs with “Counting Sheep”. It’s a perfect showing of this band mixing old and new eras with a song like this. It’s got one hell of a chorus, one to stay in your head for days on end. I can definitely see this one being a fan favorite overall from this album. The instrumentals here remind me of the best kind of emo bands, and with the kind of sound I fell in love with in the genre. The bridge is really mesmerizing, it reminds me of how I felt listening to Movements for the first time.

We then follow up with the softest track of the record, with “Audrey Go Again”. I think this one really fits in the pacing of the record, and it breaks it up really nicely. I’m also really impressed by the falsetto vocals during the chorus here by Grady. The lyrics are such a standout here as well, I’d say the most on this record. One of the standout ones for me are “When you left me, I was overwhelmed. Mind your tone but I know what you meant”. It really puts a breakup song into a new perspective, and has a lot of grace when it comes to these lyrics and the delivery as well. It’s also just such a beautiful song to listen to overall, and another example of this band tapping into new territory and growth on their sophomore record.

We’re followed up with the second single from the record, with “Head & Spine”. It dives once again into a more classic sound for the band, which is nice after the last track. It’s one I can tell is sure to go off live, with stage dives and energetic crowds. I still love the back and forth vocals here as well, it works incredibly well for them. Grady and Dante have such raw emotion in their vocals, and it stands out in a great way. And it’s got yet another solid chorus as the cherry on top of this one.

With another upbeat track that follows, we get “Tell Me Why”. It’s a good switch up after the last song, going from angsty to more positive vibes that remind me of Weezer. The lyrics are very cute and fit the vibe of the track really well. The drums delivered by drummer Jonny Camner are a standout here as well. I also just appreciate the kind of variety we get on this record overall.

We’re on the home stretch of the record, starting with another emo-leaning track with “Sunder”. This feels right up my alley, as it feels moody in the best kind of way. The vocals here really stand out with how raspy they can get in parts, it contributes to the rawness of this record. The bridge makes me feel nostalgic yet again, as this is the kind of emo that’s my kind of shit, and that this band does incredibly well. I can definitely see this being another fan favorite, as it’s definitely one of mine overall. It’s a song meant for the fall, and I can tell it’ll get a lot of plays then especially.

We’re followed up by maybe my favorite track off the record, with “Next Big Star”. This one feels like them tapping into their indie rock vibes, among the likes of bands like Vampire Weekend or Two Door Cinema Club. I think it works so massively well for them when it’s mixed with their style, and it’s got the best melodies of the album as well. The drums once again stand out here in a great way, feeling very specific to a song like this. I feel like this song just feels so inspired in all the best ways, and it also contributes to their growth and what they’re capable of.

It also goes into the next track pretty seamlessly, with “Jacy”. First off, I really how the metronome speeds up to the beat of the song, it’s a nice touch. I think it follows the last track nicely, picking up a bit of energy but staying on the melodic side. I appreciate just how catchy the guitar part here is, like it’s certainly memorable and shows this band can offer such great instrumentals. I feel like the last four tracks of this record really has quite the run.

That being said, we get to the closing track in “I’ll Be Around”. The vibe of the last couple track stays alive quite well for this song. The vocals here remind me of someone like Citizen, delivered with such poise and care. I appreciate ending the album on a more melodic track overall, it makes it feel like a worthy closing track. It’s got an impeccable guitar tone to end it as well, so good.

I will say that ‘Bambi’ is quite an impressive sophomore record by Anxious. It dives a lot into what makes them special amongst the scene, and they don’t shy away from trying new things. Because of that, I find this to be a more cohesive and enjoyable record over their debut. They’re a band to keep your eyes on going forward when it comes to emo, because they’re certainly one in contention to be one of the future faces of the genre.