Local Album Review // Lanternflies // Lanternflies
4.5 stars out of 5
Bursting with alt-rock urgency, the debut album from Erie's Lanternflies hits all the marks. The depth of this recording is so rich and dynamic that you notice new details every time you listen to it. Elements like the echoes of a backing vocal track, the chime of an acoustic guitar fluttering against overdriven chords, or a harmonized guitar solo provide gorgeous color commentary to 11 memorable tracks. Perfectly at home with the college radio glory days of late '90s alternative rock, Lanternflies have the humor, intelligence, and originality that set them apart. Post-grunge alternative rock splintered in different directions, and Lanternflies take cues from some of its best results. They're kindred spirits with underrated bands like Nada Surf and Stroke 9, but with a rougher edge, employing clever lyrics and powerful sounds, like if Ben Folds fronted Dinosaur Jr. Evolving from the solo work of frontman Ben Robson, the band formed in 2024, playing their first show in 2025 with Robson on guitar and vocals, Ed Konopka on guitar, Andy Rogers on bass, and Brennan Dykes on drums. The album was recorded with Brian Glomskey at BFE Studios in Girard, with Robson mixing the tracks. From the radio-ready hooks of "Empty Eyes" to the muddy punk rock singalong of "Southbound Spiral," this album is highly invasive in all the best ways.
