South Arcade’s ‘Superman’, a Nostalgic Banger
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Oxford rock band South Arcade are back with their new single Superman, which features genre-blending guitars and angry lyricism calling back to the rage anthems of the 2000s. The band explain how this song is a continuation of their Y2K inspired sound, featuring a mix of bright, ‘glitchy’ production and ‘punchy alt-rock energy.’
The accompanying music video, directed by DOGBRAIN, features the band in an American diner and performing in the middle of a boxing ring surrounded by a jumping audience. These settings call back to the era South Arcade take inspiration from. The motifs really drove the songs message home, making Superman and its video a fantastic addition to the band’s catalogue.
The standout element of Superman is its acoustic guitar, which drives the opening verse and blends with a hooky drum beat, adding an R&B flavour that compliments the electric guitar. The acoustic guitar adds a noticeable flare to the song whilst keeping a tight grip on the band’s 2000s influences. The song’s bridge, an extended breakdown of electric guitar, transitions into a stripped back acoustic chorus where Harmony Cavelle’s vocals get the chance to shine.
Throughout the track, Cavelle’s vocals are distinctive and familiar. The stylistic autotune on her voice is a feature of the band’s discography and it works just as well on Superman, where the vocals sharpen the anger of the song’s lyrics. When I watched the band open for 5 Seconds of Summer, Superman was still unreleased and made a surprise appearance on the setlist. They performed it with real energy and conviction, proving it’s a strong fit for their live setlist.
The song’s chorus is energetic with rap-style vocals reminiscent of early 2000s rage anthems from bands that have inspired South Arcade such as Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park. A distinctive aspect of South Arcade’s discography that I’ve always enjoyed is their ability to write rageful lyrics. Written by the whole band, Superman discusses what happens when your patience wears thin and the anger that follows. Equally, the song’s production balances the grit of the guitars and vocals whilst keeping the modern finish.
What I found myself wanting from Superman was a proper guitar blowout. The song sets up so much emotion that a high-impact guitar section in the bridge would’ve pushed the message even further. Ideally, it would create a moment perfect for a live setting which fans could jump or mosh to. I’ve enjoyed these moments on other South Arcade tracks, so it would’ve been perfect for Superman, too.
Superman perfectly encapsulates South Arcade’s sound, a mix of nu-metal and pop-punk with a modern, youthful twist. The track is a fantastic addition to South Arcade’s discography (a key player in the revival of 2000s rock) which I would recommend to anyone wanting to explore the new era of this genre.
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Article By Emilie Shaw
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