Annual Killers Strike a Chord with “IS 12:00 THE NEW 420?” — A Wistful Midwest Emo Anthem
- GRAHAM
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
With their latest release “IS 12:00 THE NEW 420?”, South Wales trio Annual Killers carve out a distinctive place for themselves in the growing landscape of modern emo revival. Drawing inspiration from genre heavyweights like Mom Jeans and Title Fight, the track merges clean, “pretty” chords with aching lyricism, embodying the raw emotional weight that defines the best of Midwest Emo. Recorded at Northhouse Studio, the single marks a turning point for the band, capturing a maturity in songwriting and sonic direction that suggests they've truly found their voice.
From the first shimmering guitar riff, it’s clear this song wears its heart on its sleeve. The addition of guitarist Jack Lewis, who joined after the band’s original guitarist departed, has proven to be a creative catalyst. Lewis, along with founding members Cohan Maybank and Morgan Price, helped reforge the band’s identity. Their chemistry seeps into every note of “IS 12:00 THE NEW 420?”, a track that feels urgent and deeply reflective. There's a weightlessness to the music, but it’s tethered to lyrics that ache with unfulfilled longing—a tale of love that feels just out of reach.
Lyrically, the song explores the quiet pain of watching a dream slip further away—a romance that never quite sparks, despite the protagonist’s conviction. What makes the track resonate so powerfully isn’t melodrama, but its honesty. There's no self-pity here, only the resigned vulnerability that fans of this genre live for. The title itself suggests a generational inside joke or cryptic timestamp—playful on the surface, but masking deeper emotional undercurrents. It’s emo done right: smart, self-aware, and sincerely melancholic.
Musically, Annual Killers keep things restrained yet emotionally charged. The guitars, processed through a quad cortex to dial in the perfect timbre, glisten with layered harmonics, while the bass hums like a broken heart on loop. Percussion is tight and intuitive—never flashy, always serving the emotion. There’s a late-night, cigarette-on-the-roof quality to this track: something you press play on during a quiet existential moment and realise it somehow knows exactly how you feel.
Ultimately, “IS 12:00 THE NEW 420?” is a clever title and a testament to Annual Killers’ artistic evolution. This track feels like a journal entry set to music, capturing the emotional aftershocks of yearning with uncanny precision. As they lean deeper into the emo ethos—introspection, authenticity, musical texture—Annual Killers shows they’re students of the genre and active participants in its reinvention. Keep an eye on this band. They’re onto something real.
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