First Day Back: Forward [Album Review]

First Day Back
Forward
Self-Released [2025]

“A living room recording with arena sized heart, Forward announces First Day Back as emo’s next great hope.”

Album Overview: First Day Back formed in the wooded corners of Santa Cruz when a group of college students realized they all shared a deep love for 1990s emo. What started with chance campus encounters and casual jams eventually solidified into a full band: vocalist and violinist Maggie, drummer Spencer, guitarists Nathan and Zion, and bassist Luke. Even though none of them grew up during emo’s early years, their connection to that era feels natural and genuine.

Their debut Forward captures the band figuring things out in real time and trusting the chemistry that brought them together. Recorded live in a Santa Cruz living room with minimal studio polish, the album carries the closeness of five friends leaning into instinct. The songs follow personal themes and pull strength from emotional honesty, letting each moment rise and fall with the room’s energy. Instead of chasing modern trends, First Day Back show up as they are, channeling the spirit of classic emo with a refreshing sense of purpose.

Musical Style: The sound of Forward leans into second-wave emo’s familiar traits: winding guitar lines, open chords, spirited drums, and vocals that move between quiet reflection and full-volume release. Maggie’s violin adds a melodic voice that blurs the space between indie rock and Midwest emo, giving these songs a warm, distinctive lift. The arrangements feel natural and unforced, leaving room for each instrument to speak without stepping on the others.

Evolution of Sound: Even though this is their first recorded project, First Day Back already sound like a band discovering who they are—and liking what they hear. Their writing favors spontaneity over rigid structure, which gives the album its pulse. Songs begin in soft contemplation and bloom into cathartic bursts, showing how quickly they’ve learned to shape tension and emotional contrast. Forward feels like a snapshot of a young band gaining confidence by trusting their instincts and each other. Their energy and youth come through in all the right ways.

Artists with Similar Fire: If you’re into the angular guitar work of Braid, the loose spark of Cap’n Jazz, or the warm melodies of Jejune and Rainer Maria, you’ll feel that same spark here. Fans of American Football’s softer tones, Mineral’s slow-build dynamics, or modern groups like Pool Kids and February will catch familiar colors as well. First Day Back borrow the spirit of these influences without ever falling into imitation.

Pivotal Tracks: “Paint” stands out with its quiet sense of longing, guided by violin lines that weave through the guitars. “Us” carries more personal weight, building from gentle patterns into an emotional peak where Maggie’s voice cracks in all the right ways. “Wait, Do You Hear That?” might be the band’s purest moment—an unplanned session turned highlight, proof of how naturally they translate a shared mood into something complete. Together, these songs underline why Forward feels so immediate and sincere.

Lyrical Strength: The lyrics on Forward focus on moments most people keep private—family tension, creative doubt, emotional confusion, and the small wins that make growing up bearable. Maggie delivers these lines with clarity and heart, shifting from calm confession to soaring release when the songs call for it. Her writing reads like late-night notes to a friend: simple, honest, and quietly heavy. That directness gives the album its staying power.

Final Groove: Forward is a fantastic debut from a young band already showing remarkable focus and feel. First Day Back balance raw edges with genuine emotion, landing on a sound that nods to the ’90s while carving out their own lane. The chemistry is real, the songwriting is strong, and the performances feel lived-in and true. If this is where they’re starting, the next step should be something special and it’s going to be exciting to hear where they go from here.

FIRST DAY BACK LINKS
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