Review Summary: Punch continues to be Punch, courtesy of Deathwish
Punch -
Nothing Lasts
Punch is a band that carries just that… one very mean and fast punch. Laughing at any notion of subtlety, this band with their fiery brand of thrashy hardcore is about as quiet and sedated as a F14 jet engine. The Bay Area band has been carving their mark on the scene for a while, releasing two full length albums of blistering fast aggression, coupled with a vocalist who sounds perpetually locked in her period (said in all love). And in an unsurprising move, Bannon-run label Deathwish has finally picked up on this blazing hot uppercut of a band, releasing their first material in conjuncture, the seven-track 7”
Nothing Lasts. That being said, there’s little to no new ground tread in the short time
Nothing Lasts burns through. Outside of a more introspective and nihilistic approach in the lyrical department, Punch continues to be the same old Punch that hardcore fanatics have continued to love. Going through a plethora of hardcore sub-genres,
Nothing Lasts showcases elements of d-beat (“Done”, “The Chase”), thrash (“Do It Yourself”), and chaotic hardcore (“Planning Is Easy”), all of which have become standard fare for Punch. The atypical touch of raw production Deathwish brings to this 7” adds a little more depth into the sound of this band but the insanely short time this release possesses tends to negate any refreshing aspects brought to the release.
But at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself “Who cares?” While little new ground is picked up on
Nothing Lasts it will still undoubtedly satiate the already established fans of the band while possibly picking up a few news ones on the way. Unwilling to drop the aggression in any way, shape, or form, Punch continues to dredge up unfathomable amounts of anger and channel it directly into their music. A solid punch right to the solar plexus, this 7” doesn’t so much as reinvent the wheel as it declares a new chapter for this band as they enter into the arms of Deathwish. Catch Punch at a local DIY venue near you and keep your eyes peeled for what this band will be up to in the future, for it still continues to be very bright.
