Quarters’ Third LP ‘I HOPE THIS ISN’T THE END OF THE WORLD’ Is Full Of Headbanging Rock Anthems
New York-based rock band Quarters, formerly known as Quarters of Change, just released their third LP titled I HOPE THIS ISN’T THE END OF THE WORLD. The project is made up of 14 tracks holding a dark atmosphere while the lyrics give way to something deeper and more meaningful. Each track is especially distinct in its sound, yet when listening to the album as a whole, the tracks become cohesive in such a special way.
The album opens with “ANGEL,” an anxious narrative exploring a seemingly toxic relationship through biblical vocabulary and descriptors: “She’s an angel with no wings, a proper sin / And he’s a ghost man with eyes of his hands / And wash it by the river, the water, cleanse the soul / She was born too late, baptizing what she knows.” The story is told with drawn out vocals and a tone full of unrest lasting five minutes and 22 seconds, making it the longest track on the album and one of the most narrative driven.
The first single release for this new album cycle was a double release of track four, “STAR,” and track eight, “PLUMMET.” The placement of the two together embodies the tension between two very different halves. It’s a push and pull that leans into both the vulnerability and unfiltered honesty that stems from drama.
“STAR” is compelling as the instruments immediately snap into place the second the song begins. The heavy bass and reverbed chords bouncing off of the almost spacey atmosphere further push the intensity felt through the lyrics. Even though there is this feeling of floating, the weight of the words sung are heavier and feel as though they’re pulling you down. While the sounds blend traditional rock with something more experimental, the song is both confrontational and confessional as frustration and bitterness are heard loud and clear.
Front man Ben Roter describes the song as “an angry ode to people who turn natural relationships into transactional ones, and how that makes me feel gross,” and says that it’s also “about people who don’t take accountability for their actions, and blame their behavior on star signs.”
The second double single release contained track five, “HEADLIGHT,” and track six, “PERFECT WORD.” “HEADLIGHT” into a gritty underground rock soundscape while ‘PERFECT WORD” delves into something softer and more vulnerable. “HEADLIGHT” is controlled chaotic distortion, and “PERFECT WORD” is raw, steady honesty.
Track seven, “DO YOU BELIEVE IN ME,” is a standout amongst others because of its softer tone and sound that’s slightly reminiscent of Cameron Winter’s (lead singer of the rock band Geese) solo style. The song has a storyline unlike anything else on the album, following pieces of the lives of two people, one stranger and one familiar. Its lyrics express the importance of those close to you and devastation of loss: “People vanish in the air / We gotta hold each other close / So we don’t disappear / I don’t wanna disappear.” The part of this song that really stuck with me was the last four lines: “I saw a lady on the subway / Crazy look on her face / She said, “Your father was a good man / Don’t be afraid of the empty space.””
I HOPE THIS ISN’T THE END OF THE WORLD exposes a matured point of view as the band fully leans into developed rock sounds and evolves the sonic atmosphere heard throughout their artistry. The artistic choices made throughout the album are more intentional than anything we’ve heard from their previous work. This intentionality is sharper and explored with fearless confidence surrounding the idea of taking risks.
Quarters recently announced a 2026 North American Tour with special guests Porch Light, Charlie Burg, Malice K, Telescreens, Khaliko, and Trophy Wife. Find Quarters upcoming tour dates here and listen to I HOPE THIS ISN’T THE END OF THE WORLD below.
