by Sol Howard
Grand Rapids alternative rock/pop-punk group Potionseller released When They Get Old, their first EP, through PWNK records on July 19th. The first single, "Monarchs Club," and its music video, came out on July 5th, 2024. Potionseller was formed in late 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic by vocalist Austen Reno. After 2 years of performing live, touring, and releasing singles, When They Get Old emerges as the band's first EP, totaling 5 songs, including "Monarchs Club."
The introduction track, "Love Island" (Feat. Tyler Albertson), begins with a delightful chug, before trending into the first set of lyrics, with a sound of what would best be reminiscent of a theme song of a film made in the 2000s. The vocals are very much classic pop-punk, and the lyrics and instrumental are as well, having a more pop-like instrumental that sounds happier and light, whilst the lyrics are much heavier-although they may not sound like it-in comparison to the instrumental. "Faster" has a more acoustic-like intro-something midwest-emo-esque-with a much more calm feeling than "Love Island." This track in itself feels nostalgic with a bittersweet calm instrumental sound, alongside softly sung pop-punk vocals. This song leans much more into the emo-in-emotional side of their style, with both lyrics and instrumentals being very emotional, leaning towards the more melancholic and bittersweet, and ending on a sharp note with harsher vocals. The third track, "One More Photo," opens off in a quick jump, returning to a hyperpop-punk style. This song focuses on passing through your life, realizing that things you hated became important parts of your life and the feeling of wishing you could have taken "One More Photo" to show your family and others in your life what you have experienced.
"Monarch's Club" opens with a scream before cutting to drums and guitar instrumental; this song being a neat medium between emo and pop-punk. The energy of the instrumental is both energetic and emotional, while the vocals have a recognizable twinge of pop-punk melancholy, while having often more aggressive screamed vocals as well. The song ends with a scream that leads into the chorus once again before ending in one more scream. "Natty Ice" is the final track on the EP, and it delivers. It begins with an upbeat, swingy pop-punk riff, opening with the lyric, "Alex talked me into a stick'n'poke at 22..." which objectively feels so purely pop-punk. The song then transitions into a more emo mood with a light chorus and instrumental. The song then builds up tension, leading into a guitar solo nearing the end of the song, which is then followed by another chorus section with underlying screamed vocals now added. The song and album ends with the last lyric, "Somewhere to go."
When They Get Old is a neatly seamed EP, combining the nostalgia of 2000s pop-punk and the nuances and sound of new wave rock and emo. To support Potionseller further, you can find them on Instagram, Twitter/X, YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify. They also have two upcoming shows, August 3rd @ Excellency Music Festival in Bay City, MI. (Free Throw Headliner, ~30 bands) and September 7th in Grand Rapids, MI. (Potionseller EP Release Show).
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