“I was the antagonist in my own story,” indie artist John Van Deusen said in an interview preceding the release of his newest album. Anthem Sprinter works as a prequel to the four-part I Am Origami series, which Van Deusen brought to a conclusion in 2022. Many of these songs were started in his teen years and recorded during the same sessions as I Am Origami, Pt. 3 in 2019. This is a glimpse into the man Van Deusen was in the past, so keeping that firmly in mind, listeners can relax as they hear the angst of an unsettled soul. This is merely the setup, featuring songs largely written in chaotic, angry, and painful seasons of life. Across the track listing, John acts as our tour guide as he searches for temporal highs, relational carnage left in his wake. That’s why, for a period of time, he had asked his label (Tooth & Nail Records) to shelve this album. He had moved so far past these songs that he wrestled with the pain of revisiting them regularly. But John eventually reconsidered, thinking it may do good for these raw tunes to be heard as cautionary tales — thus, Anthem Sprinter sees the light of day.

“How Now, Spirit” is the thesis-setting opening statement: “I am haunting my own house / My fears are of my own making.” Here, we are clued into an album that will be full of lyrics detailing relationships coming to "sudden and sad endings" (as stated in a recent interview with AltCorner). Many of these are happy-sounding songs, though close examination reveals them to be anything but. Later in the opening track, we hear the album's most overtly spiritual lyrics as he declares, “I’ll empty myself and invite the loveliest and holiest of Ghosts to take me.” That brief tune is followed up by the album's biggest highlight. Released as the first single, “Comeback Wrecker” is a rollicking good time with a mean pop-rock guitar riff, rowdy instrumental sections that have time to breathe, and a defiance to self-sabotage in the lyrics. He’s nearly sneering as he sings, “This is my comeback wrecker / Do you want to see me lose it? / Do you want to hear me prove it? / This is my comeback wrecker.” Next comes the second single, “Before You Fade Away." With the context of its fantastic accompanying DIY music video, we see the “haunting of my own house” described in the opener. I found myself moved to tears by the combination of fuzzy mid-tempo music, message, and visuals. This is perhaps the most immediately accessible song of the tracklist.

Additional highlights are found in the final four tracks to the album. First is the punk energy of “Why Do You Love Me,” a question which Van Deusen directs toward God with incredulity. Then “My Regret is a Pit” hits an upbeat groove that bounces in stark contrast to the lyrics: “I fought the urge to give up my life / Instead of seeing the beauty in the fight.” Next is “Meat,” which finds Van Deusen looking for ways to console a friend in their grieving while cynically stating, “Death is a gluttonous mouth that never gets full / And what even are we other than meat?” Musically, he utilizes a quickly paced acoustic strum to deliver the nearly emotionless point of view to devastating effect. Lastly, the closer “Trebuchet” takes its time with a riff that’s close to redundant before unspooling an additional five and a half minutes of song — and a very jamming one, at that. He returns to the thesis of self-induced relational damage with clever lines like “I don’t hate you anymore / I don’t love you any less / Let’s not and say we did” and “If it’s brains and wit that turn you on, I’m off / If time and space is what you need, I’m speed.” It’s as if each partner is taking turns lobbing verbal grenades at one another. You almost feel bad for tapping your toe and singing along in harmony to such a catchy tune about such a messy breakup.

While Anthem Sprinter doesn’t quite match the highest highs of his Origami series, it’s not without a handful of highlights making it worth the time to check out. The drumming throughout is top-notch, the guitar riffs are catchy, and Van Deusen is the type of songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve. I don’t have many criticisms other than the fact that, lyrically, this is a tough listen. Though he handles the topics of suicidal ideation and depression very hospitably, the subject matter undergirds many of the songs, making them tough to hear on repeat.

John Van Deusen remains one of the more thought-provoking and daring artists in the current scene. He's become my favorite artist of the last eight years, so anything he releases is a must-listen. I eagerly await the alternative worship album he’s currently working on alongside Jon Guerra for release in 2025. In the meantime, for those like me who enjoy a good origin story, these raucous pop-rock tunes, and the cautionary tales they tell, will do just fine.