Teenage Bottlerocket
“Post Mortem Depression”
Release Date: June 20, 2025
Ready to Roll (Pirate Press Records)
Release Date: September 12, 2025
by Scott Deckman
Most pop-punk is pretty drab and formulaic, even though the Ramones, one of the greatest rock’n’roll bands of all time and the punk rock blueprint, could be classified as such. Mid-period Green Day was also pretty special. Yeah, after that, I take a pass. Teenage Bottlerocket’s “Post Mortem Depression,” the second single from forthcoming full-length Ready to Roll, manages to transcend some of the genre’s tropes. Yes, it’s peppy, quick, and somewhat simplistic, but the vocal and song structure raises it from the quotidian. It was written, sung, and recorded by guitarist Kody Templeman after the death of his mom, so there is some emotional heft despite the goofy lyrics. The song gives off a radio-friendly Bad Religion vibe and brings to mind the Offspring’s “Gone Away,” even though it doesn’t sound like the ditty in question. Also, Darren Chewka seems like a fine punk rock drummer. Whatever. What all this means is that “Post Mortem Depression” is a pretty nice pop-punk song. And the fade-out brings to mind 45s of yore.
