15 Best Hard Rock & Metal Albums Of 2020 (So Far)
11. Watch It Burn - American Television
Though the hard rock landscape may be spreading out a bit, that doesn't mean that genres should be left by the wayside. Even if bands switch it up from one album to the next, there's nothing wrong with having a tried and true sound that does the job efficiently. As opposed to filtering it through a lens, American Television's debut release is pure punk rock all the way.
From the very first song on this record, these fresh faces know how to deliver a good time with songs that are crunchy and heartfelt in equal measure. As opposed to Boston Manor's take on punk rock, these guys are a much more rootsy punk outfit, with influences from bands like Minor Threat and Bad Religion. Does that make the album sound dated? Yes...but like...in the best way possible.
This is not the kind of nostalgia trip that makes every song feel like its riding the coattails of the past but recontextualizing it for the next generation of rockers. Watch It Burn is the sound of a punk band just starting to find their feet, and with songs like these, they are certainly hitting the ground running. It's not gonna reinvent the wheel overnight, but American Television is a band that you should definitely be keeping tabs on in the coming years.