SINCERE ENGINEER • Rhombithian • LP

Red Scare Records

Recorded by Matt Jordan (You Blew It!, Dowsing, etc.), this is the debut album from Chicago punk veteran Deanna Belos — and what can we say? It’s a wonderful pop-punk/emo-punk gem, bursting with authenticity at every turn.

The female vocals recall bands like Caves or RVIVR, but fans of Modern Baseball, Digger, Weston, or Hop Along will also find plenty to love here. In its quieter moments, it even echoes the Midwest emo brilliance of Rainer Maria.

11 songs, each clocking in between two and three minutes, filled with deeply personal lyrics and a wide-ranging, dynamic instrumentation — a refreshing standout in a genre that’s often been stretched thin.