Cherry Cheeks D.O. and the Bytes LP

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” Okay, Michael Corleone wasn’t talking about synthy punk sounds, but he might as well have been. With the glut of eggy punk that’s flooded the airwaves over the last half-decade-plus, it can feel a bit uninspired. But then CHERRY CHEEKS busts through the wall like the dang Kool-Aid man and gives everyone a reminder of how amazing this music can be when done right. On their third album, CHERRY CHEEKS opt for a concept record about the titular D.O. battling the evil Reapers set to wipe his memory, and it makes for nothing but fun from the drop. The juvenile, not so much snotty as they are nasally vocals blend so well with the catchy synth lines, and every song will have you bopping your head along. Songs like “D.O. Gets Hitched” sound like they could be the theme music for a cute platformer hero from a lost Sega Genesis gem, a subtle nostalgia that creates a comfort which never takes itself too seriously. Turn up the volume, go to the mattresses, and jump on the bed.

• Reviewer D. Gregory
• Label Total Punk
• Issue MRR #521 • October 2026