Local Review: frick. — Clock Out

frick.
Clock Out
Self-Released
Street: 10.15.2025
frick. = Jeff Rosenstock + Descendents + a little bit of blink-182’s Enema of the State era

Local pop-punkers frick. released their latest EP this March titled BE MAD. BE SAD. After enjoying it, I went to check out their LP, Clock Out, which I regretfully missed listening to when it was released last October. Upon listening, I realized that its tracklist is 10 fast, fun, pissed off and unashamed songs, which was a delight.

The record opens with “Manipulator,” a middle finger to anyone who believes that their shit doesn’t stink. It’s full of fast drums, steady riffs and a guitar tone that made me look up YouTube guides on everything that affects guitar tone. The vocals from Brad Rhoades reminded me just enough of blink-182’s “I Miss You” that I couldn’t help but 1, listen to “I Miss You” and 2, loop “Manipulator” a couple more times. It’s a great pace setter for the rest of the LP, and leads well into track two, “Don’t Tell Me What To Do.” This track retains that fuck-you attitude from “Manipulator” and backs it up with a similar kind of fast and loose sound. I loved the vocal break around two-thirds into the track’s runtime; props to whoever wanted to give the strings room to shine there.

“Headache” hits on the reality of having a headache. Sometimes it’s all you can feel. It demands all of your attention, and this song functions exactly the same with its repeated verses and chorus. The following, “Vampire,” returns listeners again to criticism against someone like on tracks one and two. The track opens with Rhoades’ vocals belting out, “Sometimes I think of you, and I do not know why / Sometimes I think of you and about how you made me cry.” Backed up by more swift, steady, pop-punk drums from the group’s drummer Syd Hale, “Vampire” is an angst-fueled track that listeners will no doubt queue up with somebody specific in mind.

I want to shout out “No Rules” for having a Turnstile-esque instrumental that I was super into. The “There are no rules” intro chant really did it for me as well. I don’t know if Rhoades is Nostradamus, just funny, or if things in the good ‘ol US of A have been this routine for a while now, but regardless, I’m sure listeners will appreciate the closing lyrics of, “Don’t pay taxes, don’t pay for gas / You can pick your nose, you can scratch your ass.”

All in all, frick. have released a tight, well-executed pop-punk album that I’m confident would appeal to those familiar with the genre, as well as those who are new to Utah’s local music scene and want to check out something that’s equal parts fast and fun. —Hans Magleby

Read more music reviews by Hans Magleby:
Local Review: BANSHEE TWIN
Local Music Singles Roundup: March 2026

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