Pro Wrestling The Band – Weanling | EP Review
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Thick Freakness
Coming down the aisle, hailing from London, Ontario, is Pro Wrestling The Band. Like any wrestling superstar, the group has a flair for the dramatic; they know how to play to the back of the room with over-the-top rock that’s fast, loud, and pumped-up. The four-man stable is led by frontman Danny Kidd, whose voice is so deadly that it can wrestle any crowd into submission. Behind him, you have Nitro Nathan Stock, known for his explosive drumming behind the sticks. Of course, we can’t forget the intercontinental champion of the bass, Bobby “Don’t Call Me” Calwell, and the most electrifying man in all of indie rock, Craig Gignac, giving the people what they want with magnetic guitar solos. In the words of WWE Hall of Fame wrestling announcer Jim Ross, “Bah Gawd, that’s Pro Wrestling the Band music.”
The group’s new EP, Weanling, is a continuation of their jaw-droppingly fun Falling In Love With Pro Wrestling The Band, which bound together their first two EPs into one full-length. While Falling In Love With has some power pop tucked in, it’s impressively diverse, with a lot of punk influence, especially in the vocals, plus some twangy elements throughout for good measure. Weanling finds the four-piece fully leaning into their power pop ethos with contagious choruses and guitar chords struck to the max, all executed with sharp-shooter precision.
Opening track “Irish Goodbyes” is one of those songs that would melt the summer radio airwaves in the mid-90s. The track has everything people would want, laced with revving high-energy guitars, thudding drums, and an infectious stadium-level chorus. Kidd’s vocals on the chorus fly above the guitars like a Macho Man Randy Savage elbow drop. When he sings at the top of his lungs, “Was looking for something painless / But Irish goodbyes got so weighted / Left me breathless,” it’s one of those moments that feels mega.
I could have seen “Tarps” on the soundtrack for the Brendan Fraser-starring rom-com Blast from the Past, nestled right in between R.E.M.’s classic “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” and Squirrel Nut Zippers’ “Trou Macacq.” The chorus is sentimental, yet also feels like it was meant to be yelled from a rooftop. Pro Wrestling The Band is firing on all cylinders with these two lead singles, proving that their ear for pop-centric hooks is up there with the best of them going today.
This EP is only five songs, but the music flies free and fast at a suitably explosive breakneck speed. “Replacements” has the shortest runtime, but it’s just pure muscular intensity between the drums and guitars from the word go. There’s a real swagger with Kidd’s vocals on “Space,” giving the kind of flair and edginess that reminds me of Liam Gallagher in his heyday. Really enjoyable to hear that level of confidence being brought out in a song. I need more of that.
At the tail end of the release, “Don’t Mind Me” kicks off with a triumphant classic rock guitar solo which soon gives way to soaring vocals that are nothing short of world-conquering. With a slower tempo that feels like last call at the bar, “Don’t Mind Me” feels like the bright, blaring lights were just turned on and it’s time for everyone to find their jackets and stumble on home.
Weanling is the best 1996 album made in 2026. The boys from up north seem to go about their music in an old-school wrestling kind of way, with vivid storytelling, technical proficiency, and respect for the artists who came before them. While the songs themselves aren’t strictly wrestling-themed, the four-man stable has a knack for memorable, anthem-level choruses that would fit pouring out of stadium speakers. Pro Wrestling the Band’s songs are filled with steel chair shots to the head, full of guitar solos, flying off the top rope power pop, and crowd-pleasing choruses that can beat any opponent for the 1, 2, 3 count.
David is a content mercenary based in Chicago. He’s also a freelance writer specializing in music, movies, and culture. His hidden talents are his mid-range jump shot and the ability to always be able to tell when someone is uncomfortable at a party. You can find him scrolling away on Instagram@davidmwill89, Twitter@Cobretti24, or Medium@davidmwms.
