Let’s be real: usually, when a band from a place like Middletown drops an album titled Take a Five, you expect a mid-tempo slog or some over-polished radio rock. But FALSE ALARM just kicked the door down and reminded us that Ohio still has teeth.
The album released this past October, Take a Five is a goddamn whirlwind. We’re talking 10 tracks that fly by so fast you’ll wonder if your Spotify glitched. The whole record doesn’t even hit the 20-minute mark. It’s the kind of “blink-and-you’ll-miss-the-mosh-pit” energy that the scene has been starving for lately.
Old School Soul, New School Punch
Whether these guys are grizzled veterans returning to the fray or just some kids who grew up on a steady diet of Black Flag and Iron Maiden, they’ve nailed the formula. It’s got that classic punk rock DNA—raw, stripped-back, and loud as hell—but it doesn’t feel like a dusty tribute act.
Every track has its own hook, its own jagged edge that shows they actually give a damn about the songwriting. It’s well-elaborated shit.
Why You Need This in Your Ears:
Zero Filler: No acoustic interludes, no 6-minute “experimental” tracks. Just pure adrenaline.
The Vibe: It’s got that gritty, basement-show sweat dripping off every chord.
The Energy: In a world that feels increasingly exhausting, this album is the high-voltage jolt we actually need.
“If you’ve got 24 minutes to spare, you could either scroll through some boring social feed or let FALSE ALARM reset your brain.”
Punk Rock Mag 
Leave a comment