Teen years are rough on everyone, mood swings, confusion, romance (or lack thereof), and a new found independence lead us to become hedonistic, craving fun and adventure 24/7 or else we aren’t doing it right. We scream and fight and crave something to fill that emptiness of “not doing it right” like teens in media. And I don’t know about you but if I wanna capture that fleeting moment of adventure, I need the perfect playlist to fill that void and thus “Teen Angst” was born.

The Antics, “Face Like Thunder”

“Face Like Thunder” is a major throwback to classic British Rock. The lead singer manages to effortlessly give off a cool and rugged persona almost like a lyrical barfight. As the beginning of their first ep, just released July 20th, these rockers from Sunderland, UK couldn’t have picked a better opener. There’s a smugness to the lyrics that accompanied by a screeching guitar and punchy guitar make the listener feel ready to dive headfirst into a mosh pit in 70s Britain.

The Angel Makers, “The Touch (Demo)”

A softer, yet grungier addition, this female led band from London has only released demos so far but this has to be the best one. The dreamy, drowned out vocals sound starved for affection, “so now I’m living for the touch” is crooned in such a way you feel like a girl dumbstruck in love. The dreamlike, almost juvenile sound fits the song perfectly conveying a swirl of emotions one might feel if they’re head over heels in love.

Only_SON, “Leech”

This sounds like it came straight out of a teenager’s garageband. The self deprecation and cynicism are littered throughout the song, the lead singer proudly declares “I’m a leech”. The lead guitar is almost psychedelic and punky in composition, blending the sounds together to make something unique. There’s not much to go too deep into with this song, but it’s nostalgic sounding enough it will leave you with a familiar feeling of loneliness and uselessness that all teenagers feel.

The Antics, “The Aggy (Mirror Me)”

There’s something rebellious and sultry about this closing track on The Antics EP “Mischief and Misbelief”. A biting guitar and snarky, self aware lyrics are thick with arrogance. “Looked at her face and I got a fright.” allows for a vivid visual of someone who may have had too much to drink. The musical representation of a wild night with friends, this song is ballsy and sneering in all the right ways, talking about the current state of youth calling them “lost in the maze/ either smoking cigarettes/or into the drug craze”. It’s hard to tell if they’re disapproving or just calling it for what it is, but regardless this punchy number is wild from start to finish.

Royal Blood, “Lights Out”

A heavy bass accompanies this gutsy rock number, mixing heavy rock with a slight alternative influence. The song describes a man heavily in love with a girl who doesn’t want anything to do with him. “You’re a cage won’t you let me in?” hints at the girl’s disinterest in letting the protagonist anywhere near her, both emotionally and physically. The lead singer begins each verse sounding sultry and dazed in love, picking up in urgency and frustration by the time the chorus comes around. By now he’s almost obsessive and angry that by the time the second verse comes around he says she doesn’t “matter that much to him”. The instrumental ratchets up the same rage with screeching guitars and crashing drums, making the whole song come together like a punch in the face.