Beauty School have released their debut album, Happiness, via Slam Dunk Records, with the lead track, “Monster.” The Yorkshire group blends pop-punk, alt-rock, and indie-rock with ease, and front-man Joe Cabrera’s lyricism and vocals pack a punch. They have “forged a record that finds a home in each genre without feeling out of place or over-indulgent,” an impressive feat. Following a sold-out debut Leeds headline show in August 2021, they released their debut single, “Take It Slow,” grabbing the attention of BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, Upset Magazine, and Rock Sound. This summer, the group performed at Slam Dunk Festival, and this fall, they will hit the road with The Dangerous Summer to promote Happiness.
“Monster” is an “emotive anthem of self-reflection” and tackles “dysfunctional, escapist tendencies during bouts of depression.” The track opens with a quintessential midwest-emo riff, followed by the lyrics, “You call me at mid-day / I’m still waking up / Count the creases on my face / I’m coming unstuck.” Cabrera’s vocals bleed over layered instrumentals; his voice is powerfully raw, yet refined. He asks, “When did I become the monster lurking in the dark?” “Monster” is about the phenomenon of hitting rock-bottom and understanding that you have, but not quite understanding how you reached that point. Eventually, he’ll pull himself out of that pit – though the fear of falling backwards will remain.
Beauty School On Tour:
- 9/26 – Birmingham, UK @ Birmingham Flapper
- 9/28 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla
- 9/29 – Leeds, UK @ The Key Club
- 9/30 – Newcastle, UK @ Think Tank
- 10/1 – Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
- 10/2 – Glasgow, UK @ King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
- 10/3 – Nottingham, UK @ Rescue Rooms
- 10/4 – London, UK @ Underworld
- 10/14 – Leeds, UK
