Tx2 is a pop punk band started by lead singer Evan Thomas, who lived in Fort Collins, Colorado. The band became popular in 2023 after one of their only songs, “I Would Hate Me Too”, went viral across social media platforms, gaining the attention of record label Hopeless Records.
After signing to the label in July 2023, the band has released many singles and 2 EPs, with their first album release being “End Of Us”.
The band has been very vocal about their involvement and support for the LGBTQ+ community, where they utilize their social media platforms to advocate for progressive change and collaborate with activist organizers to perform at protests.
The album begins with “FEED”, a collaboration with alternative musician DeathbyRomy.
“FEED” is the surrendering of oneself to a love interest that has toxic traits and negative qualities, even when the truth of the situation contradicts internal feelings.
Thomas and Romy’s dueted choral ballads blended with the aggressive electric guitar riffs further reflect giving up all of oneself to someone else even when it’s wrong.
Track two, “Nice Guy”, is another of several collaborations with alternative artists on the album, this track specifically featuring blended hip-hop rock rapper Ekoh.
The song’s perspective is being mistreated by someone who doesn’t care solely because they think you’re a nice person.
Blended electric guitar, violin, choir adlibs, and rapping segments for each bridge create a Jeckel and Heid effect. It sends the message to the listener and makes it clear to not take advantage of nice people.
Tracks three and four, “REJECT VAMPIRISM (Interlude)” and “HOSTAGE (they will not erase us)”, begin the classic inclusion of political topics that Tx2 is known for by subtly referencing the Epstein Files and the actions of politicians within them.
The interlude was recorded during one of the band’s coffee meet ups August 29th last year to celebrate the release of the song “FEED” according to an annotation from the music platform GENIUS.
“REJECT VAMPIRISM (Interlude)” and “HOSTAGE (they will not erase us)” call on the listener to reject the forces in power when they try to exhaust us mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Track five, “The Resistance”, is another protest piece against those in power getting away with doing illegal acts.
The prominent percussion from the drums and strums of the bass have a sound that references early metal and hard rock musicians, while the drum pad sequence towards the end of the song aligns with the electronic dance and techno-house genres.
Track six, “6 Shots Left”, reflects the band’s willingness to stand on their beliefs, even if their careers and lives are put at risk.
The galloping sound from the guitar and occasional jazz trumpet reflect the vaguely-western theme being portrayed in the lyrics and title.
Tracks seven and eight, “The Rain” and “SINGING ALONG”, are relatable in their consistent messages about saving yourself and holding others accountable for abandonment.
“The Rain” features a seamless ascension and descension of the distortion of the guitar that makes an appeal to feelings of helplessness and isolation.
“SINGING ALONG” contrasts the other tracks on the album by incorporating acoustic guitar and jazzy drums while Thomas roughly sings the interlude ballad.
Pairing with the isolation expressed in the previous song, Thomas expresses the heaviest feelings associated with loss and grief, another common experience in isolation where grieving the living and the dead takes over one’s thoughts.
Track nine, “Lost Souls”, tackles fighting one’s comfort in their past self and rejecting the old qualities to become a new person.
Similar in style to “6 Shots Left”, the instrumental blends pop punk and the saloon piano of the early-American western film to continue the theme of being alone in your choices and overall journey.
Track ten, “Die Alone”, is a cry for help when one feels alone and in need.
Thomas makes desperate pleas in the second chorus while the electric guitar makes its solo debut.
Track eleven, “Murder Scene (feat. Magnolia Park)”, Tx2’s first collaboration with a band that has a Black lead.
The song brings out anxiousness and fear through Thomas’s descriptions of the current state of the world as overtaken by murderous vampires, a repetition of the main concept of the album.
Track twelve, “MAD”, is a collaboration with heavy metal band Ice Nine Kills that encourages the listener to fight for their morals and values, even to the last moment when cornered by evil.
The final track of the album, “The End Of Us”, is the last collaboration of the album with rock band Black Veil Brides.
Ending the concept story for the album, Thomas is overtaken by the vampires and killed alongside others in the band.
Rating: 7.5/10
Main Attractors: Having the concept of world leaders and powerful people as vampires is a unique metaphor, but many of the tracks have a similar sound that makes multiple playthroughs a bit tiring.
Main Detractors: Rather than being bold in the studio version of the album, Tx2 saves their political stunts and statements for their live performances, which makes their work less impactful when listening from home.
