GENRE: Rock

LABEL: self-released

REVIEWED: 15th September , 2025

On their sixth album, Hell Is an Airport, Michigan-based band Liquid Mike continues to refine their brand of gritty, hook-heavy garage rock, this time turning their attention to themes of suburban monotony, burnout, and the small frustrations of everyday life. The record manages to balance sharp energy with lyrical introspection, offering songs that are as catchy as they are relatable.

Liquid Mike’s story carries the kind of grassroots charm that indie rock thrives on. Frontman Mike Maple began working as a mail carrier in 2020, around the same time the band released its first two projects. Without major label backing, the group steadily built a reputation through word of mouth and online communities. Their 2023 self-titled album struck a chord on Bandcamp and Twitter, cementing their status as one of the most exciting underground acts of the moment. A year later, Paul Bunyan’s Slingshot elevated their profile further, earning critical praise and opportunities to share stages with veteran punk and indie acts such as Descendents, Joyce Manor, and Militarie Gun.

Hell Is an Airport builds on this momentum while staying true to the band’s garage rock ethos. The tracks are compact and punchy, filled with fuzzy guitars, tight rhythms, and choruses that stick. Yet beneath the noisy exterior lies an exploration of disillusionment songs that capture the weariness of suburban life while still pulsing with urgency. This duality energetic music paired with reflections on stagnation gives the album its resonance.

Ultimately, Liquid Mike’s sixth effort reaffirms their place as one of indie rock’s most consistent and compelling voices. Hell Is an Airport is both a testament to their DIY roots and a sign of their growing reach, showing how authenticity and persistence can turn local noise into something much larger.