Québec City band The Carringtons return with “THE REUNION”, a ten-track record packed with sharp guitars, catchy melodies, and plenty of punk-rock energy. After more than a decade of making music together, the band sounds confident in what they want to do here. The songs are short, direct and full of ideas, making this an album that gets moving quickly and rarely loses momentum. The Carringtons bring together garage pop, indie rock, power pop, punk rock and alternative rock across the record. Their guitar-driven sound remains at the center, while synths and electronic touches appear at the edges, giving some of the songs a wider feel. The band also knows how to write a chorus that sticks around. There is a clear pop instinct underneath the rougher guitars, giving the songs plenty of accessibility while keeping their punk character intact.
“Emptiness” is one of the album’s strongest moments. At only two minutes, it wastes no time getting to the heart of its subject. The song deals with regret, emptiness, and the feeling of being lost, but the band delivers those emotions with plenty of drive. The line “I would like to start a revolution, but I lost my mind somewhere” adds another layer to the song and gives the chorus an especially memorable moment. “Embers” is another track that deserves attention, while “Nightfall” adds another strong entry to the album. Together, these songs show how comfortable The Carringtons are with keeping their arrangements compact while still giving each track its own character. Elsewhere, titles such as “Trust”, “Hope”, “Romance”, “Isolation”, and “Obsession” point toward some of the heavier emotions explored across the record.
The album was recorded and mixed by Adrian Popovich at Mountain City Studios in Montréal. His experience behind the recording desk helps the band expand its sound while keeping the guitars and melodies at the front. Hugo Mudie also contributed to the creative direction and arrangements, with Marc-André Beaudet handling the mastering. I really like the way The Carringtons keep their punk energy while giving their melodies plenty of room to shine. The record also strikes a nice balance between raw guitars and extra electronic touches, keeping the sound interesting from one track to the next. Since regrouping in 2023, Ben Fortier, Joey Savard, Alex Charron and Dave Chamberland have continued to release music, play festivals and tour. That experience is evident in the tightness of the performances on “THE REUNION”. The songs sound made for a live setting, with choruses that invite you to sing along and arrangements that keep everything moving.
If you enjoy garage punk, indie rock or power pop, “THE REUNION” is worth giving a listen. Make sure to follow The Carringtons on their social pages to keep up with their new music, shows and future releases. Give the full album a spin and add “Emptiness”, “Embers”, “Nightfall”, or any other favorite to your playlist. Sharing their music with friends and adding their songs to your regular rotation are also great ways to help more people discover this Québec City band and hear what they are working on next.
