Recess Party, This Must Be

It’s a fun process to guess and try to geolocate bands based on what they sound like. Don’t attempt this with Recess Party. This Must Be will have you dead wrong about where and what this band comes from in the best way. Fortunately, the UGA alumni (Go Dawgs) and Atlanta band are closer than you think. That’s right. You don't have to drive to Ohio or Indiana to witness the best parts of that sound with an undeniable southern intensity. 

Recess Party shot by Rayna Sklar

This 6-track journey arrives 2 years after their hellaciously cool debut album released in 2023, Paid In Full. This Must Be finds a cohesive balance between their experimental nature and pure intent. Guitarist and lead vocalist Riley Stillwagon plays a vital role in- pushing this further into a sound that is ready for any size venue. 

It all begins with their first song, “Behind”. All of the sudden, you’re transported to 695 North Avenue in 1996. Someone who feels the same pressures of the world that you are is wailing away. The pressure fades. Life is good. The guitar work is extremely emotive throughout every song. It’s an emo soloing clinic from Recess Party. The next song, “Outline”  is where the band sinks their teeth and makes themselves unforgettable. “I can’t enunci–I hate the microphone” is one of the catchiest verse lines I’ve heard in a dog’s age. It was run back at least four times when I first heard it. The chorus packs all the punchy relief from the guitars and vocals that the verses make you long for with its tension. 

With their masterful examples of that tension and release, it’s blind to classify this band under a garage rock nomenclature. This was wrenched to spec and polished into something way bigger, a real testament to the production of this EP. This Must Be is an exponential growth of this band’s already feathered wings. “Rapt” brings you back to the trippiness of Recess Party.  The big, sustained chords with the exceptionally fun drum and bass ride by Sam Smith and Meghan Stewart pull you back into their first inspirations building to a wall of sound. 

The title track is a 6-minute psychedelic rebirth from the grueling eulogy of “Hum”. A lot of the musical elements seem to push further a decade. This is where all these transcendent emulations of the best parts of emo and indie take form. It’s a long piece, but they did due diligence to make it gripping the entire way. If their goals were to make a digital knife through your chest of a song, they wildly succeeded. 

Although this is a 2025 release, 2026 shows much for Recess Party’s future. Their unshakable ability to convey and compliment their lyrics makes for incredible songs. They leave enough room to grow more with this EP, and they are going to be a sonic force of nature for years to come. Pay attention.