Spoiler alert: I'm working on my "Best of 2024" mega-post, and Unicorn Dogs are going to be mentioned in the top albums list. It seems I may need to make some space in my top EPs list as well! As much as I like pop-punk, I seldom show pop-punk bands much love on my year-end lists. But to me, Unicorn Dogs are a pop-punk band who transcend genre. They're just a great band, period. They write meaningful, anthemic songs about the things that matter in life, and they play them with heart, guts, and passion. They've also released some really cool concept records like a single devoted to the roleplaying game Against the Gloom and the autumn-themed double A-sider Harvest Moon. Their new EP Chaotic Neutral is also based on a theme: all four of these songs are about fantasy games of various types.
You have to appreciate a punk band that puts the same level of care and urgency into a song about role-playing games as it does into one of its regular songs. These songs are full of all of Unicorn Dogs' usual signatures: efficient songwriting, massive sing-along choruses, impassioned vocals, clever lyrics, and melodies to die for. What I love about this EP is that it celebrates nerdom in the most joyful way. What fun would life be if we didn't have things to geek out over? I say this as a man who writes hundreds of record reviews every year, circles seasonal craft beer releases on the calendar, and obsesses over fantasy football. So I was delighted to discover that fantasy football was one of the topics covered on Chaotic Neutral. "My Little Football Guys" is so hilarious and dead-on that I might feel attacked if I didn't think the song was written from a place of love. I also like that "Core Earth" is ostensibly about the role-playing game Torg but most likely has a political subtext. I'm always a sucker for an extended metaphor. Whether you're into fantasy games or not, this EP is highly recommended to any fan of Unicorn Dogs or great pop-punk in general. All proceeds will go towards a vinyl release for the band's most excellent album Age Typical Junk Behavior!
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