A Boy Named John – This Is Loss and It Will Pass

Modern progressive post-hardcore is hard to come by. Indeed, bands like The Felix Culpa, PM Today, The Rise of Science, TREOS, and Consider the Thief have all hung up their guitars years ago. Metalcore and radio rock largely dominate the space, along with some legacy acts like Circa Survive.

However, A Boy Named John carries the torch forward here—intricate riffs, passionate vocals, and tight-yet-unpredictable song structures will transport you instantly into the mid-2000s. That’s not to imply the band sounds outdated by any measure; instead, it’s a joyful resurgence of an overlooked corner of punk-adjacent culture. These gents seem to nail everything that made this small subgenre so moving.

This Is Loss and It Will Pass is distinctly cinematic; its arrangements are nuanced and alluring. Its six tracks are staples of rhythmic expertise and melodic prowess. Dynamics are exuded across 28 minutes of shifting sonic landscapes. Melody and dissonance weave in and out. The result is a high-energy listen that is ever amorphous; the moment the audience begins to grasp the composition at hand, something else quickly takes its place.

While it’s common for releases to be described as cinematic, This Is Loss and It Will Pass takes this phrase and applies it literally. Songs progress in narrative fashion and exercise tension and release. They feel theatrical. The mentally imagery is expansive. These songs demand captivating videos.

You will have to bare through some negative tropes as well, though. This is a genre known for pretty high male vocals, and this release is no different. For those of us who grew up on this stuff, it’s nothing too absurd. The lyrics are characteristically about relationships and fighting personal demons—certainly nothing too groundbreaking, but this isn’t a lyric-driven style. There’s so much to take in at any given moment that you’ll likely miss a lot of the lyrical nuance on the first few listens anyway, so that probably won’t be anyone’s main sticking point.

Minor complaints aside, it’s refreshing to hear music like this after years of want. This Is Loss and It Will Pass may not break new ground, but they bring the original Coke recipe back to a waning scene. It’s lively and emotive, captivating all the right ways. A Boy Named John has little competition it might seem, giving this EP even more space to stretch its legs. If you’re a fan of technical, thoughtful songwriting or just want something to blast in your car, this is the EP for you.

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