Waterparks: JINX

Three years on from ‘Intellectual Property’, Waterparks return with the newest addition to their musical catalogue: ‘JINX’, an experimental whirlwind that more than lives up to the anticipation it has built since its reveal in April this year. Out on 24 July via BMG, the album is a chaotic yet cohesive collection that proves the band are still pushing themselves into exciting new territory.

‘TELL ME WHY’ is a uniquely theatrical piece, playing out like a song from a musical and elevated by the unmistakable influence of contributor Danny Elfman. The track also features additional voices from Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus and DJ/producer Dillon Francis, creating an immersive world that takes the religious themes of the last album and lets them seep into the experimental atmosphere of ‘JINX’. It stands as one of Waterparks’ most intriguing and distinctive releases, making its placement as the album opener all the more impactful by immediately reinforcing that this record will be unlike anything they have made before.

The lead single, ‘RED GUITAR’, marked a bold new direction for Waterparks, perfectly capturing the spirit of this era: refreshing, dynamic and driven by an infectious hook and an epic guitar solo. That energy flows seamlessly into ‘IF LYRICS WERE CONFIDENTIAL’, a bold and brash track where frontman Awsten Knight lays it all on the table. From toxic fans and a lack of privacy to sponsorship pressure and showbiz secrets, his frustrations explode through one of the album’s most confrontational moments.

‘PROWLER’ sees the band embracing their heavier side in a rock track that feels both refreshing and familiar, showcasing their constant forward momentum without abandoning their signature style. In ‘BETTER THAN THERAPY’, guitarist Geoff Wigington has the opportunity to shine with distorted riffs that provide the unsettling backdrop for this twisted love song, reaching a wailing peak in the immense breakdown. The intensity then gives way to ‘NOBODY BUT YOU’, which explores entirely new territory with an intimate love song unlike anything the band have created before.

One of the most anticipated songs on ‘JINX’ is the reworked ‘GWEN STEFANI’, revived from an old demo that has circulated online in recent years. Pairing a bouncy, memorable melody with an entirely new set of lyrics, it’s destined to become a fan favourite. That momentum continues with ‘NO NO NO NO NO’, a track with summer woven into its DNA, featuring classic riffs and high-energy vocals reminiscent of earlier songs like ‘FUNERAL GREY’ (2023) and ‘Lowkey As Hell’ (2021).

The love song ‘PLAYING MUSIC’ captures all the anxieties of allowing yourself to be truly vulnerable with another person. Drummer Otto Wood is put to work here, relentlessly driving the melody forward before finally easing up for the dream-like finale. That hazy ending melts directly into ‘MIRAGE’, which opens in a similarly dream-like state before breaking loose in the chorus with gut-punching vocals. The result is a heartbreaking song that feels like a spiritual successor to their 2021 track ‘Crying Over It All’.

Waterparks smash every expectation to pieces in ‘TASTES LIKE TANGERINE’. The instrumental originated from a video game soundtrack Awsten worked on, and that much is clear from its cinematic intensity. This larger-than-life song begs to be experienced live, with a twisting melody that scratches every itch.

The penultimate track, ‘ANY MINUTE NOW’, captures a feeling that will be harrowingly familiar to many: searching for purpose while waiting for the moment when everything finally clicks. It successfully puts words to an otherwise unnameable gnawing emptiness, securing its place as one of the album’s emotional high points.

The final track, ‘GIRLS NEED GUNS’, is comprised mostly of an underscored phone call between Awsten and his mother, discussing her memories of the legalisation of abortion, the rise of women’s rights during her lifetime and her fears over the current state of affairs. The conversation is punctuated by a brief chorus carrying the sentiment, “the world’s fucked up, the girls need guns”.

Overall, ‘JINX’ sees frontman and lyricist Awsten Knight deliver some of his sharpest writing yet alongside what is perhaps the band’s most sonically diverse record to date. Its wide variety of styles comes together with chaotic coherence, creating a no-skip masterpiece that more than earns its place in Waterparks’ ever-growing legacy.