For Minneapolis-based artists Flip Rushmore, “Platypuseidon” is the most recent addition to their catalog of high-speed Midwest anthems. At just around four and a half minutes, “Platypuseidon” never loses its momentum and only builds with intensity the further you listen. 

The intro begins with a high tempo beat from the drum sticks with a melodic lead between charming, jangly guitar strums introduced after only a few measures. A short drum fill leads into a bombastic guitar solo that sounds like high-intensity surf rock mixed with midwestern emo. The opening instrumental begins like a theme song kicking off a mid-2000’s cartoon for the punk crowd. Nearing the end of the intro, the drums become primarily toms before a short change in pace to lead into the first verse with neat time changes that are very crisp and cleanly executed.

The first thing I noticed listening to the verse was how nicely the vocals fit with the tone of the song. The yell-sung narrative is abstract and bizarre but is so much fun and very interesting. Not only are the lyrics fun, but the timbre of Alex Smith’s vocals is so fitting and pleasing to the ears. The off-kilter stepping of the drums are quirky and complex but still fit neatly in time. Throughout the verse, the structure and rhythm constantly shifts and moves around, keeping momentum and my full attention. The movement of the song never stays in the same place too long. The guitar leads are all material I would typically hear exclusively as a solo but mixed with vocals that create intense and thrash worthy feelings. I’m sure the house concerts are wild with Flip Rushmore headlining. Honestly, the instrumental of this song reminds me of a My Chemical Romance song with slightly cleaner tones and more math involved in the writing. The pace is so fast and erratic, spontaneous and just so much fun.

The chorus is hard to distinguish because it feels as though lyrics just fall where they fit, which is a refreshing change from having clear verse-chorus intervals. The song just moves from one stage to the next. Everything moves so quickly and with such adrenaline, it can be easy – for a moment – to lose yourself in time. Up until the end, that is, when the song takes a moment to breathe after the final verse. The guitar melody sounds muted and arpeggiated on a satisfying progression with haunting, ghostly vocals faded into the background of this part. The drum sticks begin again with a similar tapping style as to the intro of the song before toms take over and the guitar becomes more agitated and wild along with the vocals, as Flip Rushmore closes out the song with an outro just as chaotic and exciting as the rest of the piece. 

For being at a length of around four and a half minutes, this new single by Flip Rushmore is exciting, fun, and thrash inducing. I can’t wait to see what Flip Rushmore does next and I only wish I could see them play a show where they’re most at home.