Prude by Drug Church
71
ChoruScore
4 reviews
Oct 4, 2024
Release Date
Pure Noise Records
Label

Drug Church's Prude announces itself with blunt force and unexpected heart, a record where raucous punk energy meets sharp storytelling. Across professional reviews, critics consistently point to opener “Mad Care” and the singalong immediacy of “Slide 2 Me” as defining moments, while songs like “Myopic”, “The Bitters” and “Yankee Trails” extend the album's melodic hardcore ambitions with memorable hooks and moments of poignancy.

The critical consensus rates Prude positively, earning a 71.25/100 consensus score across 4 professional reviews. Reviewers praise the band's balance of hardcore roots and melody, noting Patrick Kindlon's darkly funny, character-driven lyrics and the group's knack for muscular riffs that still leave room for big choruses. Critics consistently highlight the songwriting and performances as signs of longevity and evolution, describing the collection as focused, confident and at times emotionally resonant rather than merely nostalgic.

That said, perspectives are not uniform. Some critics emphasize the album's superb hooks and crowd-ready anthems, calling tracks like “Demolition Man” and “Business Ethics” standout examples of the band's heavier DNA, while others underline the emo-leaning flourishes and storytelling that give certain songs unexpected warmth. Taken together, the reviews suggest Prude is worth attention for anyone wondering whether the record is good or what the best songs on Prude are: its strengths lie in balancing aggression with melody and delivering hard-earned hooks that should land in the setlist for years to come.

Critics' Top Tracks

The standout songs that made critics take notice

1

Myopic

2 mentions

"the brilliant, Turnstile -esque Myopic delivers heaps of hardcore fun"
Kerrang!
2

The Bitters

2 mentions

"The chorus in “The Bitters” is massive and massively satisfying"
PopMatters
3

Slide 2 Me

3 mentions

"The infectious Slide 2 Me, meanwhile, is a similarly excellent riot"
Kerrang!
the brilliant, Turnstile -esque Myopic delivers heaps of hardcore fun
K
Kerrang!
about "Myopic"
Read full review
2 mentions
95% sentiment

Track Ratings

How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.

View:
1

Mad Care

4 mentions
80
02:25
2

Myopic

2 mentions
100
02:56
3

Hey Listen

3 mentions
44
02:41
4

Demolition Man

3 mentions
50
02:45
5

Business Ethics

3 mentions
44
02:46
6

Slide 2 Me

3 mentions
88
02:37
7

Chow

2 mentions
57
02:49
8

The Bitters

2 mentions
92
03:10
9

Yankee Trails

3 mentions
68
02:47
10

Peer Review

3 mentions
15
03:43

What Critics Are Saying

Deep insights from 4 critics who reviewed this album

Critic's Take

Drug Church on Prude prove once again why critics ask about the best tracks on Prude, with the opener “Mad Care” setting a raucous tone and “Myopic” delivering Turnstile-esque hardcore thrills. The reviewer’s voice leans appreciative and amused, praising humour and heart in songs while noting how tracks like “Slide 2 Me” keep the riotous momentum. These best songs on Prude are singled out because they balance cheeky wit and muscular punk drive, making them standout moments on the record.

Key Points

  • "Myopic" is best for its Turnstile-esque hardcore energy and being called "brilliant".
  • The album’s core strengths are humour paired with heartfelt songwriting and relentless raucous punk energy.

Themes

humour heartfelt songwriting raucous punk hardcore fun

Critic's Take

Drug Church sound more focused and confident than ever on Prude, where songs like “Demolition Man” and “Slide 2 Me” emerge as the best tracks on Prude thanks to big choruses and emotive weight. The reviewer’s voice stays admiring and precise, noting how Kindlon sings more extensively and the band pushes their emo-leaning tendencies while retaining muscular riffs. Praise for the standout singles is consistent, with “Demolition Man” called an absolute anthem and “Slide 2 Me” an instant classic - both crystallize why these are the best songs on the album. Overall, Prude is judged a stellar entry in Drug Church’s catalogue that balances hardness and melody with rare collective might.

Key Points

  • The best song is "Demolition Man" because it combines heaviness, emotive weight and an anthemic ending that envelops the listener.
  • The album’s core strengths are confident songwriting, emotive melodies balanced with muscular riffs, and the band’s unified performance.

Themes

emo-leaning sound melodic vs hard balance strong songwriting and performances individualism

Critic's Take

Drug Church arrive on Prude doing what they do best: crunchy, melodic hardcore shot through with darkly funny short stories and sharp social commentary. The review highlights the best tracks - “Mad Care”, “Business Ethics”, and “Slide 2 Me” - as continuations of the band’s trademark flash fiction, while singling out “The Bitters” and “Yankee Trails” for their massive chorus and unexpected poignancy. Patrick Kindlon’s vivid one-liners and the band’s hooks make these songs feel immediate and huge, which explains why fans will likely be singing them on tour. The record mostly sounds like optimal growth rather than a retread, and that confidence is the album’s chief appeal.

Key Points

  • The best song is favored for its massive, satisfying chorus and Kindlon’s sung lines, making it both hooky and emotionally direct.
  • The album’s strengths are sharp one-liners, vivid storytelling, melodic hardcore hooks, and confident production that sounds immediate and huge.

Themes

melodic hardcore darkly funny storytelling social commentary hooks and catchiness humanity and pathos
80

Critic's Take

In his emphatic, knowledgable tone Paul Dika makes it clear that Drug Church have honed their identity on Prude, and the best songs - notably “Mad Care” and “Hey Listen” - show why. He praises the opening “Mad Care” as one of the band’s best-ever openers, a song that kicks the doors in with dissonant riffing and a patented lead. He also highlights “Hey Listen” and “Yankee Trails” for adding texture and melody, while tracks like “Business Ethics” and “Demolition Man” preserve the heavier DNA. The narrative argues that these best tracks prove PRUDE balances aggression and catchy hooks, cementing Drug Church as a durable, evolving force.

Key Points

  • The best song, "Mad Care", is the standout opener because of its dissonant riff, driving force and signature lead work.
  • PRUDE balances hardcore aggression with melody and storytelling, showcasing Drug Church's longevity and evolving sound.

Themes

hardcore roots vs melody storytelling about misfortune balancing aggression with hooks band longevity and evolution