EP Review: Knuckle Puck – Disposable Life (Wax Bodega)

Knuckle Puck, one of the aggressive pop-punk genre’s preeminent forces, will release their brand-new EP “Disposable Life” on the 4th of February 2022 on Wax Bodega. The five song EP is comprised of 4 original tracks and a cover of Blink 182’s ‘Here’s Your Letter’ from their 2003 self-titled release.

Vocalist Joe Taylor describes the EP, which follows last year’s LP 2020, as a throwback to when the band first started:

It feels like we’re kind of rebooting Knuckle Puck. Making this music has been the most fun we’ve had in a really long time. That feeling is in part due to the break in working forced by the pandemic, but it’s also a product of a freer approach to writing and recording outside of label pressure. It was fresh and exciting again. It was like ‘Oh man, this feels like it did in 2013.’ We captured some of that magic.

Oh, they certainly did capture some of that classic Knuckle Puck magic here. Delivering a collection of thought-provoking pop-punk tracks that has their classic fiery and sharp energy running throughout like a vein. Bouncy and catchy, Gasoline’s mid-tempo begins things in powerful fashion. Before the pace is picked up for a punky blast of noise in the form of Levitate.

Let the pop-punk flow through you, don’t fight it, join Knuckle Puck on this journey of thoughtful, self-reflecting and smile-inducing pop-punk. Nowhere is this better exemplified than with Lonely Island. A track that will have you tapping your feet, rapping your fingers, and nodding your head, but with a meditative smile.

The last original track, In the Bag, is a banger too, unsurprisingly. A powerful slice of dramatic pop-infused melodies blended with powerful punky instrumentation results in one of the EP’s catchiest tracks.

The icing on the cake, as it where, is a cover of Here’s Your Letter by Blink 182. Taken from arguably Blink 182’s finest work to date, this isn’t a track many reach for off that album when looking for the best of it, but it’s a really great song. Something Knuckle Puck know so don’t mess with the formula too much. The most obvious difference being the vocals but the same energy still exists and it fits nicely on this EP.

Knuckle Puck – Disposable Life Full Track Listing:

1. Gasoline
2. Levitate
3. Lonely Island
4. In the Bag
5. Here’s Your Letter (Blink 182 Cover)

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