I don’t know how many times I’ve seen PUNITIVE DAMAGE live. Whatever it is, Sean’s seen them twice as many. It’s not because they’re a local band, it’s because they’re one of the sickest hardcore punks doing it right now. So to say we’re stoked for their new Hate Training EP that’s out tomorrow, October 25th via Convulse Records, would be a huge understatement — pre-order it here.
In a time when punks need to stand for something, PUNITIVE DAMAGE is standing tall. Their new EP takes inspiration from the Israeli War on Palestine, and calls out the manipulative, pseudo-patriotic, Machiavellian politics at play that aim to spin us into submission to imperialist will. Their title track “Hate Training” takes on the battle between state-sanctioned media and the stories of the people, as their vocalist Jerkova explains:
It’s about my firsthand account of people in my life trying to convince me to reject objective truth and reality. Just this consistent gaslighting that I need to ignore what I’m seeing, what I’m hearing, what I’ve learned from history–throw it all to the wayside. In spite of all of the negative aspects of the internet, it’s given us the ability to look beyond the lies and euphemisms of news outlets that have proven themselves incapable of unbiased coverage. Everyone has a phone in their pocket and the ability to document and publish what is happening to them. The bombing of news outlets, murder of journalists, the smearing and suppression of people documenting their own experience is no accident.
— Jerkova, vocalist
Everything about this EP seethes with righteous rage and fury, it’s riffs aimed at the war pigs’ jugulars and drums waking the masses up from slumbering through the slaughter. If you’re looking for ballads to distract you from reality, you won’t find them on Hate Training — this is fast, sharp, and takes aim at the heart of fascism like a silver bullet.
Check out two of the tracks below and make sure to catch them on tour RIGHT NOW –> check the dates below here:
Upcoming PUNITIVE DAMAGE Shows:
10/22 Baltimore MD @ Holy Frijoles
10/23 Roanoke, VA @ VFW 1264
10/24 Charlotte, NC @ Milestone Club
10/25 Chattanooga, TN @ Dragons Roast
10/27 Gainesville, FL @ THE FEST
10/28 Birmingham, AL @ Firehouse
10/29 New Orleans, LA @ Holy Diver
10/30 Hattiesburg, MS @ TBA
10/31 Dallas, TX @ Cheapsteaks
11/15 Tulsa, OK @ Flyover Fest Pre-show
