Why You Should Listen To Akaline Trio

Hayley Kilday

Staff Reporter

If you have darker and more abstract feelings of the world and anything beyond it, the band Alkaline Trio is the band for you.

The angst-ridden Chicago born band has been around for about two decades. The members, Matt Skiba, bassist Rob Grant, and drummer Glenn Porter, founded the band in late 1996. Alkaline Trio's debut single, "Sundials", was one of their first. After its release, Doran left the band and was replaced by Dan Andriano. The band went on to record an EP, For Your Lungs Only, and their debut studio album. After the band released their sophomore studio album, Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, Porter left the band and Mike Felumlee replaced him.

Despite being a punk rock band Alk3 somehow manages to create the most beautiful lyrics and melodies that can make your emotions run rapid or can make you feel either pleasantly heartbroken or incredibly antsy and, in the need, to get up and jump around. A couple of great songs that represent those feelings perfectly are Krystalline, from the bands ninth studio album, and Is This Thing Cursed, an emotionally charged love song with almost a sad undertone. Radio from the bands second record, Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, this sad song is haunting once you realize how it talks about suicide and the effects of bullying with a somber tone and catchy lyrics. The last song, Minds Like Minefields from their newest self-titled E.P, is chalk full of catchy guitar riffs and lyrics full of heartache and angst.

Alkaline Trio is just one of many amazing bands that came out of the late 90s punk scene with the band being heavily influenced by other amazing punk bands like Social Distortion, The Misfits, Green Day, and The Clash. I have always felt more of a connection to the rock/punk scene because they never fail to crank out new songs that are both meaningful and loud. Though I have listened to hundreds of bands throughout the years Alkaline Trio has made it to my top five favorite bands because of their surprisingly deep lyrics and heartbreakingly amazing guitar riffs and breakdowns.

When it comes to this band you cannot help but wonder why they are not as well known as other bands with a similar sound, such as Blink-182, Green Day or Nirvana. With their talent and musical prowess it is a wonder why they do not have a larger fanbase.

Image Credit: @alkaline_trio on Instagram