There are reunion records that feel like exercises in nostalgia. Tokyo Rose’s highly anticipated comeback, Never Say Die, isn’t one of them.
Nearly two decades removed from their last studio release, Tokyo Rose return with the same heart-on-sleeve sincerity that made them one of New Jersey’s defining emo exports, but with a confidence perhaps even greater with the time and growth spent away from the studio. The hooks remain huge; the guitars still soar, but there’s a maturity woven through every chorus.
Opener “Phoenician Fire” sets the tone immediately. Built around towering melodies, it’s a triumphant statement of resilience that seems to mirror the band’s own return to the fore. “Something Sweeter” follows with wistful warmth, pairing shimmering guitars with bittersweet reflections on love lost, before “Better When (Fibonacci x Pascal)” injects a dose of emo-fuelled power-pop, awash with emotional vulnerability.
The heavier edge arrives with “Ugly Comes Out.” Punchier riffs and potent percussion give the track a welcome bite, capturing the disillusionment of discovering that beauty only runs skin deep. It provides the perfect counterbalance to the record’s brighter moments. Closing track “It’s All We Have And We Don’t Want It To End” rounds everything off in suitably anthemic fashion. It’s a nostalgic, fist-in-the-air finale that somehow feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Throughout Never Say Die, echoes of Jimmy Eat World, Saves The Day and the golden era of early-2000s emo are impossible to ignore. But Tokyo Rose never sound like they’re chasing the past.
The songs carry the conviction of a band with unfinished business. But even more, they sound inspired by the opportunity to turn a new page.
For long time fans, it’s the comeback they hoped for. For newcomers, it’s a reminder of why this era of emo connected so deeply in the first place. Never Say Die proves some (Phoenician) fires never burn out.
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