BADFLOWER - “NO PLACE LIKE HOME” ALBUM REVIEW
Released June 20, 2025. Courtesy of Big Machine Rock.
Badflower returns with their third full-length studio album, No Place Like Home, released June 20, 2025.
As the long-awaited follow-up to their 2021 album, This Is How The World Ends, No Place Like Home is an exciting addition to their ever-growing legacy.
Featuring 13 genre-blurring tracks, No Place Like Home delivers the raw emotion, sonic unpredictability, and lyrical intensity that fans have come to love, all through a new lens. The album is a journey of emotional extremes, often making you want to dance, headbang, or cry (sometimes all at once).
No Place Like Home Album Tracklist
1. “No Place Like Home”
3. “London”
4. “Story Of Our Lives”
5. “Snuff”
6. “Swinging Hammer”
7. “Detroit”
8. “What's The Point”
9. “Don't Be A Stranger”
10. “Paws”
11. “Number 1”
12. “Let Me Get Something Off My Chest”
13. “Butterfly”
The album kicks off with the title track “No Place Like Home,” which thematically sets the tone for the rest of the album while pulling inspiration from The Wizard of Oz. The track seems to reflect on the chaos of the modern world while portraying the range of emotional whiplash we have all had to experience. Haunting and introspective, it sets the emotional tone for the rest of the record with an intense atmosphere and somber lyrics.
“Haunting You” continues in this vein. It’s fast-paced, dark, and addictively unhinged. This anthem of obsession is akin to some of the band’s previous work. If you are a fan of their songs “xANAx” or “Stalker,” then you’ll love this one.
“London” takes a different approach to obsessive love than the previous track. This harmonically romantic ballad takes the tone of the album down just a notch as it transitions into the heavier and more chaotic portions of the album with tracks like “Story Of Our Lives,” “Snuff,” and “Swinging Hammer.”
The emo-inspired tone of “Story Of Our Lives” capitalizes on Badflower’s unique ability to make modern rock anthems with gut-wrenching lyrics. “Snuff” is another example of something the band has perfected: abrasive yet fun tracks. The intensity of the verses pairs perfectly with the dark lyrics, and the sassy sing-along chorus encapsulates the classic Badflower sound.
“Swinging Hammer” might be the album's most experimental track, and it paid off. It’s hard to describe this song as anything other than perfectly curated chaos. Vocalist Josh Katz sings at breakneck speed during the verses, then perfectly delivers a smooth and groovy chorus.
The second half of the album slows down in tempo but amps up in emotionally damaging imagery and reflection. “Detroit” is a near-flawless rock-radio pillar with its polished hooks and driving rhythm. “What’s The Point” and “Don’t Be A Stranger,” on the other hand, are heavy, emotionally charged ballads. “PAWS” is in a league of its own for emotional torture. This beautifully composed tribute to all of the pets we’ve loved and lost will bring anyone to tears.
The closing trio “Number 1,” “Let Me Get Something Off My Chest,” and “Butterfly” wrap up the album perfectly. “Number 1” and “Let Me Get Something Off My Chest” inject a much-needed jolt of energy through funky basslines and punk-rock grooves. “Butterfly” is a bittersweet and somber ending as a reflection on growth, change, and the ways we remain the same.
Photo Credit to Jordan Wolfbauer
Overall, No Place Like Home is a compelling testament to Badflower’s continued evolution. The band manages to reinvent their sound while staying grounded in what made them special to begin with. Guitarist Joey Morrow and bassist Alex Espiritu were exceptionally exciting to listen to throughout the album, with their leading bass rhythms and funky guitar sounds that feel almost vocal in themselves. Drummer Anthony Sonetti provides the pulse that keeps each song alive, while frontman Josh Katz once again proves himself as a force of nature with his visceral, emotionally charged performances.
No Place Like Home is a wide-ranging, emotionally immersive album that cements Badflower’s place as one of the most creative voices in alternative rock today. Wherever they’re heading next, this album proves it’ll be worth following.
Badflower will be joining 311 on the 2025 Unity Tour that will be winding its way throughout the US, running from June 20 - August 31. You can get tickets for the tour by visiting badflowermusic.com.
Courtesy of Big Machine Rock
