‘Apple Cider, I Don’t Mind’, a song composed entirely by Brendan Lukens, is unlike anything Modern Baseball has managed previously. Akin to his entire side of 2016’s Holy Ghost, (staying true to the tradition that both Lukens and Jake Ewald split their albums directly down the middle in regards to who writes the songs) it strays into exciting new territory for the band, taking the form of an anthemic, post-rock blur.

The outright emotional energy of the song, combined with the lulling The Cure tinged melodies, bravely paint a picture of Luken’s emotional state during the time of writing, and the result is a breathtakingly honest, poignant track with all the warmth of ‘Joshua Tree’ era U2 and the serenity of ‘Sam’s Town’ era Killers.

The band have sadly called an indefinite hiatus after continued struggles with mental health, but if Holy Ghost is to be Modern Baseball’s swan-song, it shows just how important they are to the genre. Never afraid to openly tackle the severity and seriousness of mental illness, and offering continued support to those in need of it, they managed one of the most openly sensitive releases from the emo genre in recent times and will rightfully be recognised as one of its most seminal bands because of it.