Of course, this is still Waterparks, and the animated side to Awsten’s personality shines through the songs: from the infectiously heavy RITUAL, which features layered screams from his local Houston buddy Vincente Void of Darke Complex, to the frankly adorable two-minute sugar rush of 2 BEST FRIENDS.
It’s also impressively to-the-point. Whereas 2021’s Greatest Hits was an experimental rollercoaster ride clocking in at 17 songs, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY instead offers up 11 perfectly-formed bangers, tackling everything from cinematic pop (END OF THE WATER) to loved-up acoustic rock (CLOSER) and straight-up rowdy chaos (REAL SUPER DARK). Then there’s the undeniable pop-rock of previous singles FUNERAL GREY and BRAINWASHED, which have already racked up streams in their millions and show that even when they’re going down a more ‘straight-ahead’ route, Waterparks are on dazzling form.
When it comes to album six, at this point only Awsten knows what other layers of his life he’ll start peeling back. But in the meantime, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY is both an excellent deep-dive into one of rock’s most charismatic stars, and another compelling addition to a discography that always succeeds in bringing something fresh to the table.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: Fall Out Boy, twenty one pilots, Stand Atlantic
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY is out now Fueled By Ramen. Waterparks return to the UK later this year with Stand Atlantic.
Read this: Waterparks: “This is the best version of us – with new and exciting steps forward”