after Elmer - scratchcard
- Emily Brown
- May 21, 2025
- 2 min read
do you miss the early 2000's music? bands like blink-182, sum41, green day and all time low. then we've got a special treat for you!
back again after their last single in early april, the pop-punk bad-asses from rotterdam, after elmer have released their newest track "scratchcard" this song is raw, energetically charged and packed with lyric filled rage & metaphors directed towards anyone who has ever told you how to live your life, and giving them back a piece of your mind.
starting off strong with an already catchy guitar riff that drives you straight into an instrumental explosion before the vocals kick in, only 10 seconds in and i'm already hooked. still holding onto that classic pop-punk sound we all know and love, after elmer have mastered a way of using thoughtful lyrics.
it's a great mix of acknowledging the advice & direction being thrown out at you from people in your life, but then coming to realise "hang on, i know i can figure this out myself."
this song is relatable in a way of being self-assured. we don't need anyone else's input on how we make our decisions and choose to live our lives. and frankly, "i rather bet my luck on a scratchcard."
to accompany this banger of a single, after elmer have made a brilliant visually aligning music video. depicting an already comfortable band performing & making their music video, the director is shouting orders and directions that the guys clearly disagree with and don't need. throughout the video they're dressed in costumes, following with the fans and their own reactions thinking "what the hell?"
but it doesn't last long before the vocalist turns around and stands up for himself, shouting his thoughts and feelings, really expressing the lyrics this song is based on.
my personal favourite part of this song begins at 2:04, where we run through that beautiful punk, grainy guitar and smartass lyrics "that's a sharp tongue you've got, did it come with your lack of thought? i'm just a silhouette in your eyes, in line to die for another hype!" followed by a breakdown i'm certain will create explosive chaos in a moshpit.
in conclusion, this song is filled with a whole lot of hype from the gang. their sound is loud & proud of who they are, showing strength and resilience in their passion for music, and keeping pop-punk alive and thriving, all while staying headstrong in their values.
this track has been on heavy rotation in my playlist the last few days and i see after elmer going a long way with it, and i personally can't wait for the day they touch down in australia so i can jump around in the pit to this song.
be sure to check out "scratchcard" on your streaming service, and watch the music video linked above.
rating: 9/10
