Nights Like Thieves

The word complacent wouldn’t be used to define the work ethic and creative drive of Nights Like Thieves. They raise the bar high for themselves and are always trying to improve the quality of their music on some level to become better musicians; throughout the pandemic they didn’t dwindle away-they kept up the grind and now, we get to enjoy the fruits of the grind.

This past year, they ventured out to work with a producer, Joe Marsh, for the 4th EP that dropped at the end of October titled, Better Late Than Never. They also brought into the relationship the iconic voices of Nathan Leone (Madina Lake) and Kody Templeman (Teenage Bottle Rocket) to support Nights frontman, Mario J. Rivera’s novel voice. These collaborations have proved to kick up the intrigue and enjoyment of the EP.

Mario’s songwriting gets better and better on each record. “Follow Light” stands out as a very emotional track. He juxtaposes this very catchy melody and heavy breakdown with his screaming chords (comparative to Chino Moreno) coupled with beautiful melodic lilting voices, in one of the bands more progressive songs on the EP; changing tempos from the palm muted guitars going into a slower tempo melody with craft and musicianship.

The music of Nights Like Thieves keeps progressing and evolving with each record albeit staying true to it roots-influenced by the early 2000’s and Emo scene in the latest record. In comparison to their debut EP, Light the Fuse and Run, to the latest, Better Late Than Never, the maturity of the group and level of songwriting and musicality has proven that they have finally grown out of that sophomore slump to create one of the bands most brilliant EPs so far. - Rocktoc

Normally we wouldn’t want to be left behind, but we’re making an exception today with the premiere of Nights Like Thieves’ brand new EP, The Forgotten. Due out on Friday, May 8th, this is a heavy-hitting new piece of work starring the band in all of their glory, but also accompanied by many special guest stars. You can expect to hear none other than Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D., Scott Sellers of Rufio, Jared Woosley of Fivespeed and Angel Flores of Painting Promises on The Forgotten, a testament to how this group is viewed among its peers for its contributions to the punk and rock scenes of both South California and New Mexico. The Forgotten is at once melodic, but also a little chaotic through its five upbeat tracks. There’s certainly some nostalgia you’ll find within if you were a listener of turn-of-the-century punk rock music. In discussing the new EP, the band explained its conception as well as its soon-to-come continuation. “The Forgotten is a collection of songs that we have been sitting on for the last two years. We started off with 22 song ideas and came down to eleven songs that we were planning on putting out as a full-length album. We then decided to split the full-length in half and release two separate EPs. Each song stands out on its own and with the blending styles of the featured vocalists and NLT’s singer Mario J. Rivera, it gives each song its own character and distinctive sound. Together as an entire EP, the songs are very melodic, tastefully heavy, with catchy melodies that get stuck in your head! They have a nostalgic feel of the emo/punk style bands from the late ‘90s to 2000s, but they make it sound new again. The second EP will be titled The Lies We Tell Ourselves which we plan to release within the next three to six months.”

The Forgotten marks the third EP release for Nights Like Thieves and the follow up to 2018’s Sophomore Slump The EP which was nominated for ‘Best Alternative Rock Album’ at the 2019 edition of the San Diego Music Awards, standing up beside releases from bands such as Blink 182, the Frights, Slightly Stoopid, P.O.D., and Switchfoot. They are nominated again this year in the ‘Best Indie/Alternative Band’ category, an illustration of just how well-respected they are within their locality.

It’s not often you can say this, but isn’t it nice to be among The Forgotten? Let’s bask in the glow for a moment, shall we? - Aaron Willschick

Every review NLT has had in New Noise Magazine - Addison Herron-Wheeler

San Diego based emotive melodic rockers Nights Like Thieves have got a new EP called ‘Sophomore Slump’ on the way later this month, and in the lead up they’ve allowed us to share a peek into it with you. - Zach Redrup

SoCal melodic hardcore band Nights Like Thieves just released their new EP, titled The Forgotten. The record features guest vocals from top-notch talent: Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D., Scott Sellers of Rufio, Jared Woosley of Fivespeed, and Angel Flores of Painting Promises.

The band have been featured on Alternative Press, Dead Press, The Bad Copy, and more, included in Loudwire Playlist, nominated for the San Diego Music Award Alternative/ Rock Album 2019, and just appeared on the Howard Stern show. - Rebel Noise

The Broken Satellite’ by Nights Like Thieves is some sad, spacey alternative rock with a clear, dreamy vibe. These guys say they “started out in October of 2016 in San Diego, California. We self record, mix and mastered our own recordings and film and edit our own music videos.” They describe their sound as moving between “an upbeat, intricate and melodic vibe to a slower, more rhythmic and emotionally charged pace.” These guys are definitely pretty emo. They bring a dark, emotionally potent thematic atmosphere to a clean, almost poppy take on production and songwriting. The band obviously takes a variety of influences from their genre of the choice, but it seems like some clear lines can be drawn to Boys Night Out – which may be the most underrated emo pop band of all time – and Armor For Sleep’s suburban, otherworldly take. These guys are definitely worth a listen. Check out ‘The Broken Satellite’ below! - Nozucker13

Musicians and their fans — including San Diego’s own Nights Like Thieves — experienced a rude awakening recently when Myspace announced it had lost 12 years worth of music uploaded to the social media site. We shine our SoundDiego TV Spotlight on the emo/post-punk band (who play the Merrow on April 4) as they pine for the good ol’ days. - NBC Universal Media

San Diego’s Nights Like Thieves has started a new animated weekly web series in which the band watches and reviews other band’s music videos in the style of Beavis and Butt-Head.

A new episode will be posted every Monday morning at 10AM PST on the band’s Youtube page. Make sure to give it a sub! - Kendra Sheetz

A serotonin release triggered from Nights Like Thieves once again. This time, the little embers of desire that left us wanting more after the 2018 single release of the ballad, “Broken Satellite”, have become uncontrollable flames with the latest EP release, The Forgotten. When Mario J. Rivera, the frontman for Nights Like Thieves decided to stray away from the over saturated sound of the pop-punk movement and listen to his passionate heart, he left us with our tongues wagging and mouths salivating for more. Hence the third EP for Nights Like Thieves, The Forgotten. Each song delivers melodies that are loaded with vocal intimacy; each measure of each track is filled with emotion.



In addition to the sizzling lineup: Steve Smith (bass), Scott Szika (guitar), and Keoki Lanza (drums), are vocals by some rock power houses such as: Sonny Sandoval (P.O.D.), Jared Woosley (Fivespeed), Scott Sellers (Rufio), and Angel Flores (Painting Promises). The variety of voices and tonal quality of each singer elevates and compliments Rivera’s compositions. A track that is so beautiful and really highlights the contrasting tonal differences of each singer, Rivera and Woosley is, “It’s Cut To The Bone”. Another favorite is, “Alright”, because of its catchiness and of course that it showcases Mario’s vocal diversity. Each of the tracks is guaranteed to leave you smoldering with enjoyment! - Rosina Guerra

Nights Like Thieves is a melodic, emo, punk, rock, alternative band based out of Southern California featuring four musicians with longstanding history in the punk/rock scenes in both Southern California and New Mexico.

Their sound varies from an upbeat, intricate and melodic vibe to a slower, more rhythmic and emotionally charged pace. The lyrical content is a prevalent factor in what defines the Nights Like Thieves catalogue. Through the combined years of experience of all band members, they function as a well-oiled machine onstage and know how to bring an impressive and engaging live performance. - 91X

The nostalgia dragon of the early 2000s still reigns supreme. We no longer don our skinny jeans, cut our hair around in ridiculous directions with an ungodly amount of product (likely because most of us are going ridiculously bald, cough), or scream at our parents about how this isn’t just a phase. We scene kids of days lost have proved our ability to stand the test of time whilst growing up in our fucked up little way. Such is very much the case for emo/pop-punk outfit Nights like Thieves out of Whale’s Vagina, CA with their latest EP The Forgotten. Yes, San Diego, I’m still ripping off Will Ferrell and proudly.

My fucking lord, what a melting pot these cats are. Nights Like Thieves bring together flavours from all over the emo spectrum that have you staring longingly at your old fingerless gloves and that monstrous pile of plastic bracelets you used to rock for no logical reason whatsoever. Slinging the angst of bands like From First to Last, the ambiance of Circa Survive, the odd yet addictive attempt at technicality, reminiscent of acts like Strung Out, and the sheer emotional rollercoaster of anthemics we know and love from bands Taking Back Sunday.

Now, it could be easy for one to assume this is just an overly influenced cum dumpster, and if you don’t enjoy the emo genre, you might be entirely right, but for an admitted enthusiast like myself (said fearlessly against any possible claim of bias), this kind of music doesn’t always need to be unique, but it does need to be fun and bath salts level addictive, which I can safely say the five emotionally dripping tracks of The Forgotten damn near succeed flawlessly.

After countlessly consuming this record, I’m left with questions and certainties. I’m certain that a lot of heart, enjoyment, and pure desire of perfection went into putting these tracks together. I’m also curious as to how much fucking money was spent on recording them. As far as emo tunes go, the recording quality here is spot on, including the absolute nightmare of vocal layering it typically takes to make such angstful pitches sound full. However, this isn’t the only pretty penny I imagine was dropped here as this dirty little wrist slitter is also chock-full of what the 2000’s are best known for, collaborations. It’s no small feat to make a pundit go “aww I remember them,” but somehow NLT dug fucking deep for their third banger on this effort; “Old New Song,” featuring Scott Sellers of fucking Rufio. Cheap shot at my very young heart here dudes.

Where this album contains pure sadboi lifeblood, including anthemic highschool jams like “Alright” (The only song with no guest feature), and groovy tear jerker “The Forgotten,” my only qualm with this short and sweet compilation is opening track “Magic Eyes” (featuring Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D because why the fuck not). Every track on this record is unique and enjoyable in it’s own right, however “Magic Eyes” almost feels too left of field, and introduces the effort in a fashion almost too inconsistent to the rest of it’s guts. Is that to say the song itself isn’t good? No, but it is to say that it feels like a bone left in a stew found on first bite. Sure it adds to flavor, but I’m busy crying over here and I DON’T WANT YOUR FUCKING STEW MOM. - Jason Greenberg

Emo band Nights Like Thieves just released their third EP “The Forgotten”. The EP features some vocal features from Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D., Scott Sellers of Rufio, Jared Woosley of Fivespeed, and Angel Flores of Painting Promises.

Nights Like Thieves combines a mixture of upbeat and slower rhythms with emotional melodies that brings back that nostalgic emo/punk/rock sound in a newer way. You might recognize the name, because they won my 2018 band of the year competition.

For fans of bands like Emanuel or From First To Last. - The Aging Scene Kid

I was so excited when I received this EP from NIGHTS LIKE THIEVES as I am a big fan of theirs. Their 2018 EP Sophomore Slump was such a hit for me as a former emo girl and big pop punk fan so I was stoked to hear their latest creation.

NIGHTS LIKE THIEVES are a pop punk band from California who founded in 2016. They combine a mixture of upbeat and slower rhythms with emotional melodies to create an emo/punk/rock sound in a newer way.

As soon as track one kicked off, I was back in the mid 2000s. There is always a worry with new material from bands you like, as you don’t want to dislike it; but as Magic Eyes started, within a few bars I knew I loved it. I think they are such a great ode to classic post punk, emo rock bands but without being just another band in the mix. Magic Eyes is my personal favourite on the EP and it sets the whole album off to a great start. High energy, classic structure of the era but with their own twist and it kept me dancing. I have listened to this track so many times already and I see it as an instant classic.

Track two follows a similar suit of upbeat, high energy tunes and features Jared Woolsey of FIVESPEED and then track three takes it to a slightly more emotional tug at the heart strings and features Scott Sellers of RUFIO. I really love this track as it once again takes me back to being an angsty teen who didn’t know how to deal with her emotions and its music like this that made me feel less alone. It expresses things I never knew or know how and it’s sing-a-long friendly which I appreciate in a scream out loud feel song.

The whole EP gives me nostalgic vibes and although very familiar, is not “just the same as everyone else”. I really like this band, they’re such nice guys and this EP is a firm favourite for me. I like every track, every song brings something else and all dance around and sing out loud worthy. I cannot wait for these guys to one day tour the UK in the future.

Rating: 9/10 - Amanda Nicholls

All reviews posted by Punk Rock Theory - Punk Rock Theory

San Diego based alt. rock band Nights Like Thieves recently released a new lyric video for their song “Alright“. The song brings me back to the mid 2000s, showing that the music we all grew up listening to is by no means dead and gone!

Keep an eye out for more from this self-producing quartet in the future by following their Facebook page as well as taking a look at their Bandcamp.

Their debut full length is in the works now, don’t miss it! - James Cross