Knuckle Puck have been teasing us with numerous EP releases for a few years now and their fresh pop-punk sound has just been getting better and better. It’s hardly a surprise, then, that their debut full-length album Copacetic is a fast, furious pop-punk explosion of the most exciting kind.
Anyone who has watched Knuckle Puck claw their way up the ladder over last few years will be familiar with their distinctive vocal style; there’s a real bite to frontman Joe Taylor’s brutal voice that keeps this surprisingly polished band from becoming too squeaky-clean. With tracks ‘Disdain’ and ‘Stationary’, we see how Knuckle Puck’s harsher vocals steer them away from the tired, old formula of mainstream pop-punk in favour of bands such as Seaway, Four Year Strong and ROAM, tearing off all frills and digging up punk roots to create something much more real.
While Knuckle Puck embrace everything that is awesome about new pop-punk to give it a much-needed kick up the butt, there are still the makings of some pop-punk classics on Copacetic. ‘Poison Pen Letter’ is anthemic with a bigger, more all-encompassing sound, somewhat similar to blink-182’s self-titled era; ‘Ponder’, however, is a straight-shooter with a raw, punky intro much more fitting to the Dude Ranch style. ‘Evergreen’ is the closest Knuckle Puck get to what one might consider ‘typical’ pop-punk, sounding a little like safety net band All Time Low – however, they still throw in a harsh chorus breakdown that safer pop-punkers wouldn’t touch with a bargepole.
The shining moments for Knuckle Puck come in towards the end of the album, with tracks ‘In Your Crosshairs’ and ‘Pretense’. The acutely honest and painfully personal ‘In Your Crosshairs’ taps into a more vulnerable side of the scene, with the vocals really ripping the song wide open. Knuckle Puck make no apologies for how exposed they are with this track and, as a result, it really hits you. ‘Pretense’, on the other hand, makes it easy to imagine Knuckle Puck as a fledgling band just smashing out pop-punk tunes like there’s no tomorrow; it’s gritty, it’s relentless, it’s powerful, and it’s a perfect example of where the future of pop-punk lies right now.
There are some absolute bangers on Copacetic; from experimental instrumentals to chaotic breakdowns, honest vocal runs to catchy pop-punk riffs, this album is for anyone who is sick of done-to-death pop-punk and wants to hear something fresh and fun.
