Written by Noah Crist | October 2nd, 2026
2104 by Safety Training
Let’s get something out of the way. On the surface, Safety Training’s whole vibe is 2000’s nostalgia wrapped neatly into a gritty emo/alt-rock package. But when you dig a little deeper, the Alabama-based band doesn’t just sit down and allow themselves to fit into a strict label. Listening closer, you can easily draw influences from more modern folk music, Blue October style new wave, and even some heavier, almost shoegaze stylings.
You can hear this versatility for yourself in Safety Training’s latest album - “2104”. Take the album's opening track “You Drive (I Got a Car Full of Fox Meat)”. Immediately upon starting the track, you get hit with that quintessential 2000’s emo/alt rock sound. Think old Fall Out Boy, Coheed and Cambria, etc. But by the time you get to track 5, “Sorry I Annoyed You With My Friendship”, they attain a folksy, more acoustic sound that is grounded and retrospective. The next track switches it up right away with a Linkin Park-esque riff, throwing the listener right back into alt-rock and nu metal stylings. The point is, 2104 really is a showcase of just how versatile, mature, and creative Safety Training is. In the band’s own words, they are ‘unwilling to be shoved inside a box and have [their] creativity stifled. This record shows Safety Training are ready to launch themselves into the music scene of any city.’
I personally am looking forward to hearing more from Safety Training. They have been a joy to learn about and explore, and their nostalgia for the early 2000’s clearly rings through. A regularly performing and touring band, they take a lot of pride in their live sound, and they have done an amazing job getting that across in their recordings. The group is definitely doing something right, as they have had the opportunity to open for Coheed and Cambria, Cowboy Mouth, Capstan, In Her Own Words, and this November will share the stage with Motion City Soundtrack, Colony House, and Copeland. I hope they continue to dig in and push forward, because with this kind of momentum they will go far.
Check out their music and socials here:
Safety Training's Spotify | Safety Training's Youtube
Safety Training's Facebook | Safety Training's Instagram | Safety Training's Tiktok