ALBUM REVIEW: Sleep On It – “Pride & Disaster”

By TJ Hayes

Chicago based pop-punk group Sleep On It is back again with their third full-length release, Pride & Disaster, via Equal Vision Records. With Pride & Disaster, Sleep On It harnesses the strength and vulnerability of the human spirit. Vocalist Zech Pluister stated, “One of the big things we focused on when making this record was not only writing sad songs…we wanted to show that there is more to life than just being sad. As hard as life is, there are still good days, and we really wanted that thought to be present in this record. It doesn’t seem fair to us to only portray the hard times.”

The positivity found throughout Pride & Disaster adds a silver lining to an album that is also unafraid to address the problems that many, including the band, face with mental health. “We’re trying to be better every day,” says guitarist TJ Horansky. “And that’s what a lot of our songs are about. We want to be better people. We want to improve ourselves, and we want to help the people around us improve as well.”

Pride & Disaster jumps straight into the upbeat and empowering summer tune, “Racing Towards A Red Light.” Straight from the first riff, the vocal harmonies between Zech Pluister, TJ Horansky, and Jake Marquis are on point. This track sets the vibe for the album perfectly, and the lyrics, “there’s a long road in front of me” feel so fitting for the first track.

The group released three singles before the release of the album, starting with the track “Under the Moment.” This track, at its core, is a cry for help. The lyrics, “‘take my hand, pull me again” is a plea to anyone listening. The song also tells a story of the struggle between the denial of those mental health issues, saying you’re okay and it’s okay to ask for help from the same loved ones you lied to to cover yourself from the crushing weight of the day.

The next single they released was “Hold Your Breath.” With this track, the band channels the energy of a live show, further portraying this vibe by featuring clips from their tour with Like Pacific in the music video. With so much time spent on the road, guitarist TJ Horansky reveals “Hold Your Breath” was the first track he wrote “musically” on tour. 

Most recently, the group just dropped their latest single, “After Tonight.” The music video for this track shows a “friendly” competition as the band members fight for the ‘Dare Night’ trophy. The band’s youthful essence can be heard on “After Tonight,” a tongue-in-cheek playful song that’s full of explosive pop/rock hooks. 

From start to finish this album is perfect. I’m telling you now, do not sleep on Sleep On It. Pride & Disaster has the band’s sound nailed to a T and it’s a game-changer for the genre from here on out. I loved every single song of this album from the first listen and I think many others will as well.