Knuckle Puck made a bit of a name for themselves back when they released their last EP, Don’t Come Home. With the backing and full support of some larger bands from their area – such as Real Friends – Knuckle Puck has had the opportunity to get their music around to a larger audience. Nearly everyone that has heard the band has been fairly impressed, and with good reason. Knuckle Puck has already created a formula to concoct catchy music that you can’t help but enjoy, and now the band is back to use this same formula on every person that listens to the new release, The Weight That You Buried.
The Weight That You Buried begins with “Everything Must Go” and the classic sound of two drumsticks clapping together to start the EP off. From the first guitar riffs and bass drum hits, I already knew that I was going to be pleasantly surprised with where this EP would take me. The guitar riffs throughout the song are played fast, full of energy and easily distinguishable. The drumming is pretty solid and what one would expect from this genre, but some of the fills that the drummer throws in catch my attention every time. The second song, “Your Back Porch,” is easily the catchiest song on the EP. The chorus of this song always has me singing along and playing the air guitar. Every time the vocalist yells “I’m not innocent – not in the least bit,” I get chills and goosebumps. The layered vocals towards the end of this song are pulled off well and add yet another merit to the EP. Not surprisingly, Dan Lambton from Real Friends makes another appearance on this song just like he did on one of Knuckle Puck’s previous releases.
The third track, “Stateside,” contains some incredible vocals and guitar work alike. The main vocals on The Weight That You Buried have a harsh sound to them, but they don’t lose the melodic quality. While these are the vocals that you hear most often on the album, there are also other vocals – such as screaming similar to The Wonder Years – and other singing vocals that compliment the other two. Each type of the vocals are packed with loads of energy and emotion that can get anyone singing along. The final track, “No Good,” is the perfect song to close with. The vocals that are layered over a quiet guitar riff at the beginning set the tone for the song. The vocals in this song – and the way the song is written as a whole – really reminded me of The Story So Far or Major League. The chanting of “It’s people just like you that made me the pessimist I am” is by far my favorite moment on the entire EP.
Knuckle Puck appears to have found their place making ridiculously catchy pop punk songs that every kid can relate to. The band has moved forward with leaps and bounds in the name of progression since Don’t Come Home, and the members seem to have drawn musical influences from bands like The Wonder Years and Set Your Goals to have made this happen. The production on this album is close to perfect, with every instrument sounding beautiful and the vocals coming out crystal clear. Being only four tracks long, I wish the EP was a bit longer; however, each song on The Weight That You Buried is golden and something that a fan of any of the bands mentioned in this review should check out.
Links: Facebook – Bandcamp
