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Citizen

Calling the Dogs

Written by: KRS on 06/05/2024 11:35:25

Citizen returned last year with their fifth album “Calling the Dogs”, which consists of 11 tracks spread across 33 minutes. This album marks the debuts of Mason Mercer on guitar and Ben Russin on drums; since 2021, those two have been touring members, and if you are one of the fans who have seen them live, you can only agree that these two will bring Citizen to a whole. While Citizen is traditionally known for their emo and post-hardcore style, “Calling the Dogs” takes another approach, and leans towards a more indie and pop-infused sound. And there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as it’s done right.

“Headtrip” kicks off the album with some energetic pop-infused guitars and Mat Kerekes’ vocals; they are soaring throughout the song. New member Mason Mercer makes his album debut in the best way possible. Throughout the song, it’s pretty clear that the chemistry between Nick Hamm and Mason Mercer is pretty evident on this track and the album. The way that the guitars feed off each other makes the track shine with Mat Kerekes’ emotional lyrics throughout the song.

“Can’t Take It Slow” has no time to waste, coming in hot with the throbbing synths in the beginning. But while it’s sonically pleasing with the way the band is playing off each other, the vocals are decent. Still, it’s during the bridge that “Can’t Take It Slow” becomes a proper earworm and is one of the catchier songs that they’ve released from the album. “If You’re Lonely”, the single they released when they announced their album, was a great choice, but maybe it also gave a false feeling of hope. It features the classic Citizen sound: jumpy guitar riffs, drums that are the centerpiece that decide the pace of the song, and some of the catchiest lyrics on the album ”You and me, we’re never gonna be winners”.

Now that the mention of false hope has come into play, “Lay Low” and “Hyper Trophy” do indeed hit hard and channel the energy that once was heard on “Life In Your Glass World”, but they lean towards a more pop-infused sound. They aren’t bad tracks; they ooze confidence. However, you can’t help but wish for a bit more intensity from the drums and guitars during the choruses.

“Lay Low” boasts the punchiest chorus that’s practically infectious, while “Hyper Trophy” delivers catchy wordplay. Still, they both need to raise the tempo of the music and add some bolder instruments, and fewer synths at the end of “Lay Low” would be nice.

It feels like all the experimentation has to lead up to one moment on the album, and that’s “Dogs”. A commanding bassline kicks off the track in the beginning and sets the tone for Mat Kerekes’ somewhat darker vocals. Tuning down to the max during the verses and switching to normal vocals in the chorus works well for the song. It is an excellent example of when experimenting goes right.

“When I Let You Down” is just a fun indie-pop song; nothing really needs to be changed. It’s light and groovy but layered with some dark lyrics. But one won’t really notice because it’s a danceable song. The 80s vibes on the penultimate track “Options” is actually a delightful track. The synthesizer works well with Kerekes’ tuned-down vocals. The track is overall a rather dreamy song; the drums do their job of amplifying the track, so big thumbs up to that. And “Takes One To Know One” sounds more like a band jamming it out in their parent's garage, and no hate to that, because it has the same energy that “Headtrip” delivered when the album opened.

Five albums in, and Citizen isn’t afraid to switch it up and push themselves. “Calling the Dogs” might not be “Youth” or “Life In Your Glass Window”, but it carries itself very well. While Citizen’s have been around since 2009, they are still a criminally underrated band. And “Calling the Dogs” is just another reason why this isn’t a band one should sleep on and dive down into their discography because it’s short and sweet. You get an overview of where they started and how they ended up going a more indie way with this album. Bands need to progress to grow, and Citizen are just here to have a good time, put out music, and take things to the next level.

Download: Lay Low, Dogs, Hyper Trophy
For the fans of: Tigers Jaw, Moose Blood, Turnover
Listen: Facebook

Release date 06.10.2023
Run For Cover Records