Chicago’s Time Thieves are back, and they’re making it count. On July 11th, the band drops their newest single, “Stare at the Sun,” the first look at their upcoming second EP, If You Survive. The track builds on the band’s signature mix of urgency and melody, fusing gritty, fuzzed-out power chords with sticky vocal hooks and smart rhythmic shifts that keep your ears perked from start to finish.

Formed by longtime Chicago punk scene vets Jonathan Pool (guitar, lead vocals) and Mike Oberlin (drums), Time Thieves was born out of a shared desire to lean into power pop’s melodic core without ditching punk’s raw edge. Bassist Annie Saunders and guitarist Tim Reynolds later joined, both adding backup vocals and helping to round out the band’s now razor-tight lineup.

You can hear their collective experience in tracks like “Stare at the Sun” and earlier singles like “Remember I Forgot” from 2024’s Come Home EP. That last release earned attention for its “chunky riffs, bombastic drums, and sing-along-ready verses,” and this new single is no different in spirit—just sharper.

“Stare at the Sun” kicks off with thick, Weezer-esque guitar work before gliding into a cloud of beautifully hazy harmonies. There’s a deliberate tension between punch and prettiness, something that feels instinctive rather than overthought. Clocking in under three minutes, the song is tightly built but never stiff—letting structure and dynamics keep things interesting.

If You Survive will eventually pair with Come Home to form a full-length release, with talk of vinyl on the table. And if “Stare at the Sun” is any clue of what’s ahead, this next batch is shaping up to be leaner, louder, and more dialed-in than ever.

With a résumé that includes stages shared with Joyce Manor, Laura Jane Grace, and The Fest, Time Thieves are clearly not here to ride a trend. They’re the kind of band that makes every second of a song count.

As their new material is not available as we are constructing this article, check out the previous EP here and check their bandcamp and Spotify for the new single ASAP!!!