Vancouver pop-punk band Chief State release sophomore album Keep Your Friends Closer under Mutant League Records.
Chief State has released their sophomore album Keep Your Friends Closer via Mutant League Records. The record arrives as a tightly constructed collection of emo-tinged pop-punk songs, showcasing the band’s focus on melody, urgency, and emotional clarity. It marks a confident step forward in their evolving sound.
Produced, engineered, and mixed by Tim Creviston and mastered by Stu McKillop at Rain City Recorders, the album reflects a more collaborative approach for the band. It leans into sharper songwriting and bigger hooks while maintaining the grit that has defined Chief State’s rise in the modern pop-punk scene. Recorded during a period of transition, it captures the band refining their identity.
Early reception highlights the album’s balance of energy and introspection. Northern Exposure praised its summer-leaning emo pop-punk tone, while Out of Rage scored it 8/10 for its cohesion and purpose. Silent Radio noted the band’s ability to merge high-energy instrumentation with vulnerable lyricism, reinforcing their place in the genre. It has been described as a record that sticks long after the first listen.
The album explores themes of change, relationships, and resilience, filtering personal reflection through fast-paced pop-punk structures. Across its tracklist, Chief State continues to lean into emotionally direct writing, pairing upbeat instrumentals with lyrics that sit in contrast, a signature approach that defines much of their recent work. This approach gives the album both immediacy and emotional weight.
Keep Your Friends Closer is available now on all major streaming platforms via Mutant League Records. Alongside is a limited vinyl and merch drops. The band will celebrate the release with an album show on May 9 at The Pearl in Vancouver, joined by Dead Churches and Darryl Saves Lives. A new video for “Damn!” is also out now. Further updates on touring are expected in the coming months soon.
Press Release, Photo: Brandynn Leigh
