Commoner – Former Self Review

Tucson-based band Commoner announced they’d been signed to Pure Noise Records in 2025, and aside from a handful of re-released EPs and a single, we waited with bated breath for something more. That something is now here: Former Self, the band’s debut album and their next chapter.

Going in blind, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this album. Generally, Pure Noise never lets me down, and there are no surprises here; Former Self is great. Out of the gate, the album begins with an absolutely brilliant feature from Nu-gaze band Split Chain, and already I could tell I was going to love this record.

The album, in a nutshell, doesn’t really stray from that Shoegaze-infused post-hardcore many familiar with Split Chain would expect, so this was the perfect feature to have on the opening track from the album. Commoner leans more toward the post-hardcore side of things, but there’s an underlying hum of Shoegaze throughout with the hazy, reverb-soaked vocals and dreamy, fuzzy chords.

Commoner have put a lot of time into this record, and it shows. This isn’t a collection of their previous singles or EP tracks with a bit more polish. Former Self is a carefully constructed selection of tracks that not only flow well, but also take listeners on a journey along with the band into their next chapter. The band had 17 tracks prepared for their debut, cutting them down to 10, and it’s a stellar selection – though I’d be curious to hear what didn’t make the final cut, too.

Musically, Former Self is a mix of shoegaze, post-hardcore, and nu-metal – not KoRn nu-metal, though; think more alt-metal TrustCOMPANY style nu-metal in that sense. It’s a sound that’s making big waves at the moment, and I’m here for it. If you’re a fan of the aforementioned Split Chain, or bands like Profiler and Fleshwater, then you’re going to love Commoner‘s Former Self.

The album cohesively has ups and downs, with fast-paced tracks like Passerby and more emotionally fuelled tracks like the title track, Former Self. Collectively, it reminds me a lot of albums like Funeral For A Friend‘s Casually Dressed and in Deep Conversation; it’s not afraid to be vulnerable before exploding into something more intense and raw.

As you might expect with the album’s title, Former Self is an album of self-reflection, looking back at our childhoods, at how we’ve evolved, and missing that simplicity of having no responsibilities. It also gazes at past relationships, how others have changed, and letting go. All of this emotion is thrown at us with a raucous energy throughout the album, leaving us with a lasting impression that Commoner is not playing around.