Chicago alt-rockers Footballhead have been gracing our ears and stages for some time, blending earnest lyricism with noise rock techniques. Inspired by many subgenres, Footballhead can effectively release a discography of hits that transcend generations. ‘Before I Die’ as a collective body of work proves that Footballhead will withstand the test of time, organically generating legions of new fans by doing what they do best. From the first independent release, Footballhead’s potential far surpassed their current stature, but they are quickly catching up with themselves.

This rollout has been fun to witness. Each single fit in nicely with each other like puzzle pieces, finally culminating into a fully-fledged body of work. Of course, an EP is like a snack-sized album, tasking artists with getting their point across in a shorter time, but ‘Before I Die’ did this effortlessly by putting storytelling at the forefront. Audiences got three singles before the EP’s release; “Your Ghost” as the introductory single felt like a prologue in a book or play. This isn’t a concept record, but everything ties in with the other songs, working in tandem instead of individual parts. Ryan Nolen’s signature lyric style has evolved quickly, and the development is most prominent in “Your Ghost.” Everyone in the group has done their homework, preparing for this era of the band’s creative work.

Going in order of the EP’s tracklist, “My Direction” is a fantastic entryway for those who missed the singles drops and are catching up with the EP on release day. This is also some of Nolen’s best vocal work; his lyrical ability isn’t the only thing he has seemingly been working on, as his voice throughout the EP is more robust, precise, and controlled than in other releases. The guitar work is tight as ever, the drums sit pretty within the mix, and Footballhead will never let the bass line go undetected with Bass Wiz Sisky Biz shredding in the track.

Garage rock has shapeshifted many times, but “Crushing Me” is introspective skatepark music in the best way possible. If Tony Hawk was still releasing “Pro Skater” games, this song could sit among the classics by Fall Out Boy and their contemporaries that formed peoples’ tastes in music. Footballhead is fantastic at being a Footballhead—a group of real friends who share their experiences, creating art that others can relate to without trying too hard.

The right choice was to use “Before I Die” as the title track and focal point. It feels climactic as the flow transitions into the second half of the EP. “Your Ghost” was my favorite of the three singles before I heard the rest of the EP.

After getting a full-picture scope of the work, “All For What?” became an instant favorite. These kinds of risks become incredibly special for a band’s legacy. Regardless of the future, the band and fans will remember that Footballhead did not hold back. These sonic choices were likely an itch each had wanted to scratch for years. Hearing the elements of metalcore and other heavier subgenres was a natural progression for the band. Still, witnessing them blossom into the group they were destined to be is genuinely unique. Their pro-level musicianship and honest love of the game will take them to the top.

“In Motion” closes everything out on a powerful note. Slow and steady wins the race since the rest of the EP was sometimes heavy. They put “In Motion” as the ending track, allowing audiences to dig deeper into the emotional whirlwind they just experienced. This track offers some of the best production work in the 19-minute EP, utilizing multiple different layers without doing too much at once.

Footballhead’s progression from ‘Kitchen Fly’ to ‘Before I Die’ proves that practice makes perfect. With more resources and a tight-knit group of real friends, Footballhead can soar creatively. I can’t wait to see them on festival lineups, to say, “I knew them when…”