Deanna Belos, founder and singer of Sincere Engineer, says of the new album, “I’m beyond excited for the new chapter of SE. We’ve done so much touring with so many amazing bands that we all look up to.” And she’s not wrong. I went back to see exactly when I started to pay attention to this band and it was 2021…when they opened for Hot Mulligan. Then there was 2022, opening for The Menzingers. They went on to share bills with Joyce Manor, Spanish Love Songs, Motion City Soundtrack, Say Anything, and many, many more. The point is: your favorite band knows and loves Sincere Engineer. So, yes, this is a review of their new album Probable Claws but let’s just clear the air here – this is also a Sincere Engineer appreciation write-up.
I can sum up my love for this band very easily. They are a tight group of musicians, no matter the iteration, that have always been jam packed with positive vibes and good ol’ fashioned punk rock energy. Their songs are catchy and Belos’ vocals can sway from a gentle pop-punk delivery to a more in-your-face hardcore. Their songs tend to be infectious as they can instantly get you moving and Probable Claws is no different.
The mark of this record and this new chapter of Sincere Engineer becomes apparent in just seconds of the LP opener “Twist My Tongue.” Led in by powerful drums and fuzzy chords followed by some choir-like, atmospheric melodic chants, “Twist My Tongue” is a perfect summer pop-punk song. At times it feels like a Blink-182 track with more self-deprecation instead of…well, whatever you classify Blink humor as. And honestly, it’s what I love about this band. Lyrics are authentic and grounded and some self-deprecating jokes tend to find a way in that provides some cathartic breaks.
There is certainly a big step forward with this new record without any drastic reinvention. Songs like “Fast Forward, Rewind” and “Hallucinogenic” show some of that influence the band gained from touring companions The Menzingers and Joyce Manor. These are energetic punk tracks and, as so many Sincere Engineer songs do, are bound to get bouncing around in your head.
Probable Claws isn’t all upbeat jams, however. In true Belos fashion, she finds ways to slow down on this record. “LOL,” for instance, is a slow-driving track that quotes classic punk songs all throughout via spoken word interjections. Meanwhile, “Arborvitae Evergreen” – which might be my favorite from this record – is a love letter to some nostalgia seemingly from Belos’ childhood.
The album closes with a tender, building song for a friend. “Dynamite” begins acoustic and evolves into a chaotic mix of emotions and sounds which feels like a great way to end the LP. It’s a heavy song emotionally and the band is really able to flex their depth with this 5 minute closer.
I couldn’t be more excited for this album and this band. Sincere Engineer has really stepped forward with Probable Claws. Not to mention they went with an A+ pun for the album title. They deserve their flowers and then some but don’t just take my word for it. Take the word of all our favorite bands who consistently pick them to share the road with. They are the real deal and Probable Claws is just another piece of evidence to submit on that statement.
Probable Claws is out and streaming everywhere on Hopeless Records on June 26th. Listen to the pre-released tracks here:
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