Everything is Getting Worse But Sounding Better: Roughsleeper’s Latest EP Packs Plenty of Punch

Roughsleeper – Everything Is Getting Worse

Released: March 3/2026

Lonesome View Records

By Scott Roos

Our Grade: B+

Regina’s Roughsleeper return with Everything Is Getting Worse, a five-track EP that doubles down on the band’s strengths: punchy melodic punk, big hooks, and tight musicianship. Now operating as a streamlined trio with Rob White (guitar/vocals), Joey Gadica (bass), and Steve McNeil (drums), the group has trimmed the lineup but kept the energy intact.

The EP opens strong with “Just Leave,” driven by a huge, hook-heavy chorus that sticks immediately. It’s an effective showcase of Roughsleeper’s ability to balance urgency and melody as well as their affinity for vocal harmonies. The only misstep is an extended outro that runs a little long, hinting at the band’s occasional tendency to drift into longer, almost progressive instrumental passages that don’t always suit the direct, punchy nature of the genre.

“Paper Anniversary” keeps the momentum going with a sharp opening riff and a verse built for singalongs. One of the band’s most noticeable strengths is the vocal clarity. The lyrics remain front and centre without getting buried under distortion, something that’s refreshing in melodic punk.

The EP’s standout moment is “Red Chair,” which features the line “everything is getting worse,” effectively making it the record’s epicentre due to it's mention of the EP's title. Built around a stompy mid-tempo groove, the song highlights the rhythm section. Gadica’s bass sits prominently in the mix, adding a welcome low-end punch, while McNeil’s drumming stays comfortably in the pocket throughout. It's an engagingly groovy song

The final two songs - “Beverly and Elliot” and “Ghost Not Gone” - don’t quite hit the same heights. Both feel less immediate and a little short on the memorable hooks that define the EP’s strongest moments.

Still, Everything Is Getting Worse is a solid showing. The production is crisp, the riffs are sharp, and when Roughsleeper keeps things tight, the results are undeniably catchy.