LO-PAN have been at this for a while now, and you can hear it. Their latest, Get Well Soon, doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does what it needs to do – hits hard, sticks in your head, and sounds like a band that knows exactly who they are. No gimmicks, no overthinking, just solid, road-worn American hard rock with enough weight to keep it interesting.
If you’re unfamiliar with LO-PAN, imagine a mix of thick, chugging riffs, a bit of that stoner rock fuzz, and clean, melodic vocals that lift everything up instead of dragging it through the dirt. There’s a clear nod to bands like Soundgarden, Clutch, and maybe a touch of Torche, but LO-PAN isn’t really trying to sound like anyone else. They just do their thing – big choruses, driving rhythms, and a sound that feels heavy without being oppressive.
Get Well Soon has plenty of that going on. The guitars hit that sweet spot between grit and polish, never getting too sludgy but still carrying plenty of weight. The rhythm section is locked in, giving everything a sense of motion rather than just plodding along. The vocals are strong, soaring in places, but never overdoing it. It’s the kind of balance that makes the album easy to sink into without demanding too much from the listener.
That said, it doesn’t feel like LO-PAN are breaking new ground here. This is a band in their groove, refining what they do best rather than trying to surprise anyone. The songs are tight, the energy is there, and there are hooks that will stay with you. But if you’re looking for something that shakes things up or takes big risks, this probably isn’t the record for you.
Still, there’s a lot to like. LO-PAN know how to craft a memorable tune, and Get Well Soon is full of them. It’s an album that fits right into a long drive or a late-night listen, the kind of rock that feels familiar in a good way. Maybe not their most groundbreaking work, but definitely a solid, well-executed entry in their catalog. If you’ve been a fan, you’ll find plenty to enjoy. If you’re new to the band, it’s a good place to start – just don’t expect to have your mind blown.
The cover art for Get Well Soon is a weird one – a life preserver just floating up there against a dark sky. It’s got this uneasy feeling, like it should be helping someone, but instead, it’s just hanging there, useless. That kind of fits the vibe of the album. LO-PAN’s music has always had this mix of heavy and melodic, like something pulling you down and something else lifting you up at the same time. This cover, much like the album itself, doesn’t try too hard to be flashy, but it lingers in your head. It’s not some deep, overthought concept, but it does capture that feeling of pushing forward even when things aren’t exactly solid beneath you. Just like the music – familiar, but a little off-kilter, always moving but never quite settled.
Get Well Soon is a good record. Not a game-changer, but a reminder that LO-PAN know exactly what they’re doing and do it well.
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Released by Magnetic Eye Records on April 4th, 2025
