Dead Bars
All Dead Bars Go To Heaven
Iodine Recordings [2025]
“Louder, wiser, and still swinging—Dead Bars deliver a fistful of feeling.”
Album Overview: Dead Bars began in 2013 as the project of John Maiello, a New Jersey transplant who stepped out from behind the drum kit and into the spotlight. Along with fellow Jersey native and drummer C.J. Frederick, the band quickly made noise in Seattle’s punk scene with a series of 7-inch releases. Their debut full-length, Dream Gig (2017), and follow-up, Regulars (2019), helped establish their blend of heartfelt grit and ragged energy.
Now comes All Dead Bars Go to Heaven—a record that looks ahead while making peace with the past. Over ten tracks and just 27 minutes, the album delivers the sweaty, cathartic rock they’re known for, but with more emotional clarity. It’s still loud and raw, but there’s a new layer of self-awareness in how the band navigates their sound.
Musical Style: Dead Bars play punchy, straight-ahead rock with punk roots and a melodic edge. The guitars churn with fuzzy momentum, the drums hit hard without overcomplicating things, and the vocals are shouted with just enough vulnerability to cut through. This is music meant for small venues, full of raised fists and shouted choruses.
Evolution of Sound: Compared to their earlier work, this album shows more dynamic range. While the band hasn’t lost their drive, they know when to pull back. Songs like “Missed Connection” introduce more texture and space, while still staying true to their raw spirit. They haven’t reinvented themselves—but they’ve clearly grown.
Artists with Similar Fire: Fans of Japandroids, White Reaper, Beach Slang, and The Gaslight Anthem will find a familiar energy here. There’s a kinship with bands like early Titus Andronicus, The Menzingers, and Blink-182 in their blend of honesty and hooky punk drive. Add Cloud Nothings, PUP, and FIDLAR to the mix—bands that push emotion through distortion without getting bogged down in polish.
Pivotal Tracks: “I Wanna Be a Ghost” opens with urgency and sets the album’s emotional tone. “I Live Here Now” hits with one of the catchiest choruses on the record. “Bad Life” slows things down, trading grit for a vulnerable ballad that stands out in contrast. “Missed Connection” brings layered guitars and a sense of atmosphere the band hadn’t fully explored before. Closer “Be Me” feels like both a personal manifesto and a perfect final punch.
Lyrical Strength: Maiello’s lyrics read like conversations after last call—plainspoken, reflective, and full of lived-in emotion. He doesn’t hide behind metaphor, instead tackling themes of regret, change, connection, and trying to make sense of the mess. These aren’t lyrics meant to impress—they’re meant to hit home, and often do.
Final Groove: All Dead Bars Go To Heaven isn’t a reinvention—it’s a reaffirmation, and it plays like a band taking stock without slowing down. The record is loud, heartfelt, and rough around the edges—in all the right ways. It captures a band comfortable in their skin, but still reaching for something deeper. If you’ve been following Dead Bars, you’ll find familiar ground with just enough new tricks to keep it interesting. And if you’re new here, this is a solid entry point into their scrappy, no-bull world. Either way, Dead Bars prove they’re still alive and kicking—and it’ll be worth seeing where they head next.
DEAD BARS LINKS
Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | Iodine Recordings
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