JOYFUL. REFLECTS ON THE PAST IN THEIR NEWEST SINGLE, “WE WERE GOLDEN”

Pop-punk’s gilded era was full of angst and hometown loathing. Now, it has become a bit more optimistic; many legacy groups have since transitioned to softer lifestyles, establishing families of their own and finding beauty in daily life. Newer bands, however, are still struggling between finding the balance in aging gracefully and living life to the fullest, like joyful. best expressed in their new single, “We Were Golden.”

Consequently, this new-age pop-punk hit borrows from a more traditionalist sound, while still blurring the lines between subgenres. It teeters between neon emo and pop-punk, intentionally incorporating buzzy lead synthesizers, a la Motion City Soundtrack, alongside full rhythm guitars in the chorus.

Growing up is an anxious experience for most. Time is famously fleeting; many feel torn between having too much and not enough at once. “We Were Golden” expresses these frustrations rather pessimistically, but not in an overbearing way. Instead, it’s just relatable, since so many of us have struggled with the same phenomenon.

Especially these days, joyful.’s honesty is appreciated. “Love and light” is great in theory, but rarely ever in practice, making “We Were Golden” a more realistic take. Sure, there is beauty in every stage of life, but sometimes, the stagnancy can be overbearing and joyful. did a fantastic job of capturing that.