Samiam

Sergie Loobkoff has been a busy man! Writing and releasing two outstanding LPs between 2020 and 2022 with new supergroup Ways Away, and as much as I loved those albums, I always wondered what a new Samiam album would sound like and hoped they would resurface at some point. There had been rumors they were working on new music, but whether it would finally ever surface was suspect. I also felt like Ways Away had a lot of what I loved about Samiam, but was still missing the pop-sensibility and trademark vocals that Jason Beebout brought to the table. Thankfully the wait is finally over. Legendary punk band Samiam have now returned with new music, and a new album announcement, and I'm here for it. The band has just announced their new LP "Stowaway" via Pure Noise Records, set for release in March, and has released two singles from the forthcoming LP, and they absolutely rule! Both singles, the newly released "Crystalized" and previously released single "Lights Out Little Hustler" capture the anthemic and nostalgic emo/punk you'd expect from Samiam. Big melodies, soaring choruses, and Beebout's classic vocal hooks, these songs transport me straight back to the 90s, while sounding just as fresh and invigorating as they ever have. Sergie definitely has a formula in his songwriting and it's worked in every project he's participated in; whether it be Knapsack, Racquet Club, Ways Away, and of course my personal favorite Samiam. I'm a firm believer in 'if it's not broken, don't fix it', and that's what we have with these new songs. Their brand of emotionally driven punk rock with sing-along hooks will always have a place in my music collection, and I'm super excited to hear what's in store on the remaining 10 songs of this 12 song LP. Stream the new songs below if you don't believe me, and be on the lookout for more comments about the LP in the coming months. Also, be sure to catch them in April on one of their East Coast headlining tour dates if you have the chance! I'll be there! Meanwhile, it's been 12 years since we've had an album from these guys and from what I can tell, the new LP will have been worth the wait.