Hexing – In Tandem | EP Review

Sometimes it’s the small things in life that resonate with us the most; the little acts of kindness, the unspoken acts of love, and the subconscious actions of others that end up staying with us for years to come. Hexing’s second EP In Tandem is a 20-minute collection of songs built around documenting these moments, encasing them in amber, and holding them up to the light for the world to see. 

Based out of the frigid, lake-adjacent Muskegon, Hexing is a five-piece rock band that blends emo, punk, and the occasional drop of melodic hardcore to a satisfying and emotionally-satiating result. The group’s newest release follows their 2018 EP Temporary and two-track single (fittingly) titled Everything is a Bummer. Seemingly having moved to a more positive mental state, In Tandem finds the group detailing their interpersonal relationships and putting words to the seemingly nondescript moments that end up meaning the world.

In fact, opening track “Car Crash” begins by throwing the listener directly into one of these lived-in moments of adoration. The song itself is a clear-eyed pop-punky track that shifts from emotive harmonies to trashy riffage at a moment’s notice, but the song’s first lines raise the curtains on a scene of confessional weakness. We hear our narrator recall a time when a loved one had to shepherd them home while they sat drunk in the passenger seat and sunk deeper and deeper into self-loathing.

“I got drunk as you drove me home
so I didn’t have to be alone with my thoughts
so maybe I could feel a little less like me
cause the more I think the more I hate me”

In addition to relaying these moments of personal connectivity, the other major through-line of the EP is aging out of a pre-determined mold and into something less defined. Throughout the release, the band finds themselves at a crossroads in life, stuck between their firey teenage punk phase and whatever comes after that. Lyrics like “running off what remains of my teenage fumes and decaying youth, cause I’m just not angry anymore” bottle up the all-too-familiar story of a once-punk teenager who has now reached their mid-twenties/early-thirties and looked around only to realize that they’re the oldest person in the basement.

But this newfound maturation also comes with a sense of happiness, because despite the uncomfortable (and non-negotiable) adjustment to getting older, Hexing still manages to find rays of positivity in the face of what could otherwise be complete collapse. On the goofily-named “Fleetwood Mac Sex Pants,” the band finds themselves adjusting to a more positive outlook on life… or at least a slightly less negative one. It’s a classic emo track in that the silly song name merely serves as a distraction from the surprisingly-mature sentiments on display in the lyrics as the band reiterates, “I’m getting used to feeling okay / it’s unnatural to not hate everything” in their most earnest and Wonder-Years-esque delivery.

Other highlights include the lead single “Swamp Thing,” which boasts hard-hitting screams, a driving drumline, and lyrics delivered through a defiant snarl accentuated by punchy palm-muted guitar riffs. On the opposite end of the tonal spectrum, “Sunday Mornings” builds off an emotive Balance and Composure-like guitar line that works its way up to a melodic and explosive post-rock finish. Throughout In Tandem’s 20 minutes, the band displays a unique ability to mix different subgenres and influences into one fluid presentation that makes them all seem effortless. These technical chops are backed up by the band’s grounded lyricism that any aging punk should easily be able to relate to.

Growing up means making a lot of changes, not the least of which is figuring out how to adjust to your waning energy, passion, and drive. It’s easy to be an energetic teenager; it’s harder to be an energetic adult. We have more responsibilities, more to lose, and more people that grow to count on us over time. It’s shifting from ‘fuck yeah I’ll stage dive’ to ‘I think I’ll stand in the back tonight.’ It’s getting a good night’s sleep and eating right. That might not sound very punk, but neither is growing up. 

Rocky as they are, these types of changes are ultimately for the best because they’re signs of development and evolution. Getting better doesn’t happen all at once; it’s a long, ongoing, and sometimes painful process of incremental steps in the right direction. 

In Tandem is an album about loosening your grip and finding your place in the world. Obviously, the title and album cover both evoke a certain romantic notion, but the EP itself delves into all the specific ways that a relationship can live, thrive, and sometimes falter. Recognizing the role that people play in our lives is not to be taken lightly, and Hexing has done a masterful job of portraying the complex ways that these relationships exist. Nothing is perfect, and everything is changing, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.