In 2022, Anxious (Allen, guitarist/co-vocalist Dante Melucci, drummer Jonny Camner, bassist Sam Allen, and guitarist Tommy Harte) released their debut album, Little Green House, which won over fans and critics alike and marked the beginning of a two-year tour. It’s a story as old as time: A young band forms with modest ambitions, spends a few years organically developing their sound and writing their first record, then releases that album to widespread acclaim and newfound opportunities—only to realize that their wildest dreams are coming true alongside an incredibly volatile new life on the road. Guided by the spirit of thousands of bands that have exhausted themselves on the same grueling tours across the country, the band embraces the challenge with ease.

Before long, outside interests begin to dictate what they need to do to maintain their hard-earned momentum. The goalposts keep shifting, the novelty starts to wear off, and mistakes become fewer.

In 2025, Bambi arrives—an album of remarkable growth, depth, ambition, and energy. It takes all the unsolvable and inevitable problems of growing up and reinterprets them in a haunting and authentic way. The album is deeply rooted in the history of Northeast Tri-State hardcore and emo, yet it also embraces the expansive alternative rock songwriting that Anxious had only hinted at before. It’s a statement of intent—the kind of album that comes from a band reconciling where they’ve been with where they want to go. Bambi is the sound of Anxious going all in—and coming out better than ever on the other side.

It marks a clear shift from a group of kids playing regional shows to an established band touring the world. Anxious are continuing down the path they first set out on as high school students—now speeding through quarter-life crises at 55 mph (a nod to Double Nickels on the Dime, but also the fastest speed one can safely drive a 15-passenger van with a trailer). While this familiar trajectory has defeated many bands, Bambi proves that Anxious won’t be one of them.

In early summer, Anxious will embark on a European tour in support of their new album, with a show at X-TRA Musikcafé on June 28.