Album Review: Banks Arcade – Second Place Superstar (Arising Empire)

Banks Arcade, the modern alternative metal band, are back with their brand-new album, ‘Second Place Superstar’, on September 25th, 2026, via Arising Empire.

The biggest and boldest Banks Arcade record yet? Without a doubt and the proof comes in twelve forms. Second Place Superstar is the sound a band at peak confidence, the sound of a band filled with vigour, the sound of a band locked in, and the sound of a band who know exactly what they want. It’s world domination, or nothing, and there’s simply no denying that the mass appeal of a record like this means the former is way more likely.

Filled with potent creative metal intensity, danceable EDM, hip-hop life, and alternative anthemic properties, this is an album that can be simply summed up as one hell of a high point for Banks Arcade. One listen, and most will be hooked, especially when the record starts in such cool fashion. Move, more than just a pithy title, it’s an instruction, and Don’t Miss, a modern metalcore banger that comes with a ton of dynamism.

However, if we’re talking about surefire fan favourites, especially as Banks Arcade really experiment with electronica on them, then Rockstar and Mirror will be two of the album’s biggest tracks. The former’s energy is impossibly infectious, whereas the latter’s emotion and heavy power hits hard. They’re both impressive, but for different reasons.

The genre-bending continues in self-assured fashion as the album goes on too. With the likes of Severance, Know Me, and Yuck! delivering varied levels of excitable heaviness, earnest melodies, body-shaking rhythms, challenging electronica (I don’t love everything), and big singalong moments.

It’s a racy listen too, as before you even know it, we’re near the end. Sweat kicks off the latter part of the record and serves as a bit of an intermission/intro for what follows. It’s only a little over a minute long, so its jagged and jam session feel isn’t a big deal. Thankfully, things pick back up in frenetic fashion for 000. Before some of the album’s most extensive and anthemic efforts come along in the form of Last Time and Wait. Both tracks are strong showcases of the vocals, and how emotion can come from different areas of a personality.

Banks Arcade then wrap up, what is sure to be a massive hit of an album, with a track that can best be summed up as the ultimate heart-wrenching and soul-touching singalong of all. It’s Have Faith and it’s a very special ending.

Banks Arcade – Second Place Superstar Track Listing:

1. Move
2. Don’t Miss
3. Rockstar
4. Mirror
5. Severance
6. Know Me
7. Yuck!
8. Sweat
9. 000
10. Last Time
11. Wait
12. Have Faith

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