The Maple State are back! Seventeen years after their original disbanding, the Manchester emo-punk outfit has released their new album Don’t Take Forever.
A staple of the early 2000s punk scene, The Maple State steadily developed a loyal following over the years – one that includes Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus and The 1975’s frontman, Matty Healy.
Now, the original quartet (Greg Counsell (bass/vocals), William Pearson (keys/vocals), Christian Counsell (guitar/vocals), and John Goodwin (drums/vocals) reunite for a tight ten tracks, over which themes of times passing, mental health, and falling in and out of love are explored.
Raw and triumphant, Don’t Take Forever brims with The Maple State’s signature yearning and angst – proving they’re one of the best Midwestern emo bands not actually from the Midwest.
Despite briefly reforming to release the 2018 album The Things I Heard at the Party, things have been quiet on The Maple State front for a while. That was, until the release of the new single “Zero Days Since Last Incident” earlier this year – much to the surprise and delight of fans.
Describing the track as “the first proper Maple State song” he’d written in years, front man Greg Counsell said the song was born out of a personal mental health crisis. It captures the energetic, hook-driven riffs that defined the band’s early sound. Naturally, the song became the catalyst for the original line-up to start making music together again.
Speaking on the album, Counsell noted, “a recurring theme in these songs is the idea that you’re not locked into any one path. You can choose what to do with your life, no matter where you find yourself, but it’s only you that can change things. Time just flies by. The four of us split in 2008 and it’s taken this long to get back together, but as soon as we started up again, it felt like no time had passed. I was thinking about all those years in between, the thought that we’d ever be here again never crossed my mind, but the only thing in the way of it was ourselves. Why did we take that long to realise it?”
Don’t Take Forever sounds like old friends reuniting and picking things up right where they left off. “Winner Part II” opens the album with cheery piano chords accompanied by the line ‘you can’t be a winner if you don’t play a hand’. Soon, the drums and guitars kick in, and we’re launched into a high-octane track.
This infectious energy continues into lead single “Zero Days Since Last Incident”. It’s a tight emo-punk number that’s as catchy as it is personal. Hooky guitars drive the song, as the refrain ‘when will I be better?’ is repeated. It’s fun, fast, and guaranteed to get you headbanging.
Next is “Settle Down”, an introspective track with intricate guitar lines and all the hallmarks of Maple State’s beloved post-punk anthems. “Better Than Before” follows, diving into nostalgia through punchy and confessional lyricism that explores growth and hopefulness, building into an uplifting anthem.
The middle of the album does get a little repetitive, but that all changes with track seven – the standout, “Willow”, and one of my personal favourites. It’s a slower, tender song that captures the optimism of new love. It’s melancholic and full of yearning, with Counsell’s lyrics full of their signature poignancy, particularly the chorus line ‘I came down here alone, but we could leave now together, leave all we’ve known behind and start anew some place better.’
“There’s Always Money in the Banana Stand” isn’t just a great title and reference; it’s a chance for The Maple State to flaunt their range. Moody and atmospheric, there’s even a flute woven amongst the guitar lines before the drums kick in and build to a fuzzed-out crescendo.
The final track, “Vacancy,” is a return to the signature post-punk sound. There’s a melancholy in lines such as ‘I was with you at the start, let me be there at the end’ and ‘there’ll be a vacancy in my heart, and I will hold it there for you’. It’s a fitting closer and a beautiful send-off for the album — and potentially the band altogether.
Despite time passing, the album proves that The Maple State haven’t lost their edge. Instead, they’ve gained all the good parts of growing up: legacy, wisdom, and perspective. Sonically, the band remains true to their post-punk roots, characterised by tight and earnest lyricism. Don’t Take Forever packs a punch and succeeds in delivering a cohesive album that fans will devour.
Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait quite as long for the next one!
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Don’t Take Forever is out now – grab a copy HERE
Header image supplied by artist/PR
