Monikers

Monikers feature a founding member of pop punk luminaries Discount, which more than likely accounts for the hook-laden moments on Wake Up, and with a voice that sounds reminiscent of Blake Schwarzenbach, the band often end up sounding like a poppier Jawbreaker. Throw in a healthy dose of D4 and you'll have a good idea of what Monikers are about. The songs here never reach unmanageable tempos, relying on mid-tempo rockers rather than breakneck speed, which allows for the guitar melodies to shine and makes deciphering the gruff vocals a little easier. Lyrics range from the personal to the political, with the album ending on a bittersweet note on acoustic track "Black." Wake Up is the perfect record for anyone who takes their pop punk with a bitter coating.