Get in the “PROWLER,” Waterparks release jolting track and announce new album, “JINX”
BY CHEYNE FORD
Waterparks prove that they’re still on the move, announcing their highly anticipated sixth full length album JINX will be out on July 24th via BPM. Thursday evening. Along with the release of their latest single “PROWLER,” as well as a music video accompanying that premiered Friday. The fan favorite track is the Houston pop-rock trio’s fourth single promoting the album following last summer’s confident yet existential “RED GUITAR”, along with fame-centered callout anthem “IF LYRICS WERE CONFIDENTIAL”. “ANY MINUTE NOW” shows their softer, more nostalgic focus which explores the uncertainty of the choices they’ve made to get where they are today.
The track’s theme confronts the multitude of struggles the band has dealt with over the last two years. The forthcoming album marks a three year difference between releases, following their fifth studio album, Intellectual Property, along with the cancellation of its sister album, Intellectual Property 2: Lost in the Property.
It begins sampling well-known anonymous celebrity gossip column and podcast Deuxmoi over punchy, siren-like guitars before exploding into a high-speed extended intro that makes you feel like you’re in a chase. With gut wrenching lyrics such as “People say that pressure makes a diamond /But at this rate I'll be crushed before I'm shining”and “I’m a singer, not a savior”, lead singer Awsten Knight navigates the ups and downs the last few years have brought them. After becoming an independent band in May 2024, Knight was left conflicted on the direction the band was heading towards, leaving them with a lot of uncertainty on their future.
The bridge slows down a bit, with vocals to mimic Knight’s own exhaustion from his consistent drive to push himself to create an album 100% better than the last. Distorted voices chanting, “Everyone’s gonna love you / Just go out there and do what you do,” and “Don't even worry about it /Trust in the universe” act as reassurance on his decisions and instincts for his creation. These voices are also over a ticking clock, a possible callback to the amount of time they’ve spent in making this album and an underlying reminder that he is on a time crunch.
“PROWLER” became an instant fan favorite during its partial live debut on the band's most recent tour, conveniently named, The Prowler Tour. Bringing high-energy mosh
pits, crowdsurfing and passionate fans singing along to every word even though the official lyrics had not yet been released or confirmed at the time. Now, along with its official release, it is sure to become a setlist staple.
In a post shared to his X account, Knight says, “The best band album of the last 10 years is here. This is why rock music exists. It took so many years… Over 3 years in the works and it’s time.”
PRE-SAVE “JINX” HERE:
