Alex Melton releases The Process on 6th March 2026 via Pure Noise Records and while this is not his first release, it is his first full length album made up entirely of original material. That matters. A lot of people found Melton through his country influenced takes on punk classics, and he has dropped original songs before, but this is the first time he has presented a complete body of work like this. It feels like a proper step forward.
Produced by Alan Day of Four Year Strong, The Process centres around a simple but heavy idea. Stop living for the finish line and start paying attention to the middle. The record digs into anxiety, self sabotage, ambition and the pressure to constantly achieve. The single Look Up introduced that theme before the album dropped, and it still feels like the anchor point. The chorus is strong, it sticks, and it has been heavily on repeat for a reason.
You can definitely hear the country influence woven through the record. It is subtle but present in the vocal phrasing and melodic choices. At the same time, if you spent your teens and early twenties around pop punk, this is an easy listen. It feels like grown up pop punk. Still hook driven, still energetic in places, but mature enough that it does not feel like it is trying to relive 2008.
One of the biggest strengths of this album is how smoothly it plays. It flows naturally. There are no obvious weak spots. It is close to being a no skip record, not because every track is trying to be the biggest anthem on earth, but because it is consistent. You can just let it run.
Alan Day’s production is noticeable, but in a restrained way. He usually leaves a clear imprint on the records he works on, and while you can hear that tightness in the guitars and structure, it never overshadows Melton’s identity. An artist like Alex could easily have leaned harder into country production, but sticking with this balance has paid off. It keeps the record grounded in pop punk and alt rock without losing his roots.
The drums are a real highlight. That is where the punk influence really jumps out. They drive the record forward and give the more reflective lyrics weight. There is always movement underneath the emotion.
Standout moments are easy to pick out. Thunderstorms shifts the pace completely. It is slower, almost dreamlike, super chilled. It gives the album breathing space and shows a more restrained side of Melton’s writing. Look Up remains one of the strongest cuts. Released ahead of the album, it still feels fresh here. The chorus lands every time and it makes sense why it has been on repeat. Hurricane is the emotional one. It carries real weight without overdoing it. Spin it and you will know exactly what we mean.
Vocally, there are flashes that will remind some listeners of early 2000s alt rock. At points it gives off hints of The All American Rejects in the way the choruses lift. It is not imitation, just that same clear melodic delivery that makes the songs easy to latch onto.
The Process is not about reinventing the wheel. It is about refining what works and presenting it in a cohesive way. For listeners who grew up on pop punk and want something that reflects where they are now, this lands. It feels confident, measured and honest.
82/100
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