Vagabond gave Forever the scratched-with-coming-of-age fervour of classic pop-punk –

Get drunk on pop-punk nostalgia with Vagabond’s latest single, Forever. The York-based raw melodic punk trio, formed in 2023, brought classic pop-punk teeth into a modern bite, filling the track with the kind of emotional punch that proves punk still has blood under its fingernails.

The way the chugging chords swagger angst straight into the diehard romantic anthem, as the guitars audibly prime themselves to pounce in the chorus, and the vocals embody the scratched-with-coming-of-age fervour of 00s and 90s pop-punk, gives Forever a sense of old-school authenticity that many attempt to emulate but rarely encapsulate.

Vagabond remembered the secret ingredient for voraciously visceral pop-punk: sacrificing a slice of your vulnerable soul to the studio to bring into fruition an abrasive mirror of the pain you face when you cannot face the prospect of a temporary connection. The production keeps the band’s DIY ethos intact while giving the hook enough lift to feel built for sweaty pits in Northern venues and beyond.

Vagabond’s mix of playful observation and a proper working-class panache fire up their blistering riffs, relentless bass and pounding drums enough to give them a high-energy reputation that’s impossible to ignore.

Forever is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast