Lifeguard have been making waves in Chicago’s all-ages DIY scene for a few years now, and on the Second City trio’s debut LP, Ripped and Torn, they prove the buzz is well-earned. 

Though two-thirds of Lifeguard are still in their teens, with singer-guitarist Kai Slater being the oldest at 20, Ripped and Torn calls to mind an impressive array of post-punk icons, sound experimentalists, and garage rock greats.

A chiming clang runs throughout Ripped and Torn. “Under Your Reach” reflects the album’s discordance, opening with an ear-ringing drone that gives way to Asher Case’s steady bass and Isaac Lowenstein’s persistent march of drums before breaking into a tangle of wiry guitars. “Music for Three Drums” is a more extreme example, a battering track not unlike the tonal noise-play of the Dead C. 

Beneath the frenzy beats a melodic pop heart. The fuzzed-out “It Will Get Worse” summons the spirit of bygone Australian garage balladeers Royal Headache. Post-punk that dances at the edge of no wave often feels claustrophobic, but this rollicking number gives Ripped and Torn a bit of breathing room, opening the album’s emotional palette beyond doom and gloom. 

Given Lifeguard’s youth and sharp instincts, there’s no telling how far they will go. But one thing’s for sure: rock music, in both its noisy and poppy strains, is in good hands.