I had my first encounter with The Paradox today while scrolling through the stories of one of my favourite artists N4T!— and let me tell you, it hit hard. Their latest single, “Bender”, features none other than Travis Barker of Blink-182, and I’m 100% here for the nostalgic, high-energy pop-punk vibes. The track feels like the soundtrack to a coming-of-age comedy ( in the best way possibl) and that alone earns it a solid stamp of approval on the pop-punk scale.

Naturally, I fell into a quick spiral of research (as one does), and honestly, I was flabbergasted (yes, I love that word) at how fast this band has grown. The Paradox only formed in July 2024, and in just a year they’ve skyrocketed to lineups that include When We Were Young Festival and Vans Warped Tour — two events I’m personally counting down to. Safe to say, I’m officially adding them to my Warped Tour checklist.

So who are The Paradox? Led by Eric Dangerfield (vocals, rhythm guitar), the band also includes Rayman on bass, Xelan on lead guitar and backing vocals, and PC3 on drums. What sets them apart isn’t just their sound, but their identity — four young, African American musicians crashing into a scene that wasn’t quite prepared for them. From day one, their online presence exploded: their debut video went viral, and within a month, they’d pulled in over 100k followers. Shortly after, they were opening for the likes of Green Day, Jack White, and Cartel.

Their April 2025 release, “Do Me Like That”, currently their most-streamed track, racked up over 20 million views, and it’s easy to see why. The interplay between lead and backing vocals gives the track dimension, keeping it fresh and avoiding the flatness some pop-punk songs fall into.

Now back to “Bender” — it’s a punchy, party-ready anthem. Pure pop-punk juice. The chorus is sticky in the best way, the kind of thing you want blasting on a summer car ride or at a house party after a couple of shots. It has Barker’s fingerprints all over it: tight drums, melodic urgency, and that slightly chaotic Blink-esque flair. And the vocals? Catchy as hell.

I also took a listen to “Ma. Lauren”, which I have to say I loved. It’s cheeky, slightly raunchy, and the unexpected piano solo adds a sweet, playful touch. It’s this mix of fun and boldness that makes The Paradox so refreshing.

The Paradox is riding the wave of pop-punk’s revival — and doing it their own way. I love seeing a new generation step into punk rock with fresh energy, injecting their personality and a modern edge into a sound we’ve always loved. With more releases on the horizon and a stacked tour schedule ahead, I’m genuinely excited to see what The Paradox brings next.