Sincere Engineer is releasing their fourth LP “Probable Claws” on June 26th 2026 through Hopeless Records.
The first time I came across Sincere Engineer was around the time the album “Bless My Psyche” was released in 2021, after seeing their name listed alongside some of my favorite bands like The Menzingers, Joyce Manor, and so many other names from the new pop-punk/emo scene, and I was immediately impressed by the immediacy with which the band drew you into the mood of the songs - especially thanks to the incredible melody and aggressiveness of the vocals and the directness of the lyrics by singer-songwriter-full-on musical genius Deanna Belos, who brings a truly unique tone and personality to the deliverance of her vocals. Her incredible ability to keep you glued to what you’re hearing - whether live or through speakers - is something you rarely come across, and it perfectly explains how easily you get hooked on her music. It’s no coincidence that Sincere Engineer quickly moved from the very close-knit yet influential Chicago-based Red Scare Records to the global platform of Hopeless Records, and is now a universally recognized band with an array of songs that stand the test of time with remarkable ease.
I felt the same wave of excitement when the new album was announced, with its typically humorous title “Probable Claws”, and the first very promising singles were gradually released leading up to the album’s full release - 11 tracks in total - a runtime of 40 minutes - where you can’t even tell how easily and enjoyably the time flies by while listening to it. It’s truly a no-skip album, where the tracks flow seamlessly into one another with exceptional production (recorded at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio) in an overall fantastic body of work without flaws or almost any second thoughts. The album flows seamlessly between faster pop-punk tracks, classic Sincere Engineer offerings, and more emotional, melodic elements, and I can’t even decide which direction I like best. The more I get hooked on “Twist My Tongue,” “Cooler,” “Fast Forward Rewind,” “Hallucinogenic,” (favorite #3 so far) and “DNA,” the more I want to listen to the amazing “LOL” over and over again (the collaboration with Wil Wheaton is a fantastic idea, and the little nod to Bad Religion is a nice touch), “Arborvitae Evergreen,” (favorite #1) “Perfect Crime” (the interlude - country guitar - is a beautiful idea, favorite #2 so far), and the album’s amazing closing track, the ethereal “Dynamite.” Deanna Belos’s lyrics - always borderline humorous with a touch of well placed sadness - paired with the versatility of her incredible voice, sometimes more melodic, sometimes more aggressive and their combination in lead and backing vocals - make “Probable Claws” her best work to date.
9/10
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