PUNKTUALS has just released its debut album, “Better Never Than Late” under FRIENDO RECORDS. Join me as I discuss the LP and why PUNKTUALS is punk in their own way.
The LP begins with “Better Never Than Late,” which is the main single. This track is punk because it introduces us to a song about a ninja carrying out a mission. So punk rock!
What caught my attention were the vocal mix, which has a tad bit of a megaphone effect, the panning effect throughout the song, and the clear vocal mix in the chorus. If you listen closely, you can hear the difference in the mix.
Diss tracks are common in the hip-hop and rap community, but the second track of the LP, “FU,” is so pure and straightforward that PUNKTUALS isn’t even hiding it anymore.
From my assumption, it’s a track about a former bandmate. You can feel the anger and resentment towards that person because, again, there’s no hiding or even tropes with PUNKTUALS. It’s just madness and punkiness mixed with chaos.
You can hear the blues influence throughout the song because of the crunchy guitar riffs. The vocal harmonies in some parts of the track are surprisingly amazing.
The third song of the LP, “All The Horses Are Dead,” is more serious for PUNKTUALS. The song’s main theme discusses being overworked and its effects like emotional imbalance and exhaustion, just to name a few.
I specifically like the overdriven bass line on this track because it goes hand in hand with the steady drum pattern, and in hindsight, it displays the discipline that PUNKTUALS have when it comes to playing their instruments.
“HA Ha,” the fourth track of the album, is a song to ponder because of its main theme. The song addresses absurdity and social commentary, with a bit of humor added.
Phrases like / Play stupid games, win stupid prizes / Go trip that dude while he’s exercisin / are some lyrics that are humorous in a way but are covered with tropes that touch the fabric of our society. In other words, it’s nihilistic in its own way.
The fifth track of the album, “Ohm,” has the longest intro on this LP. The song is another social commentary about today’s world, where PUNKTUALS pictures us in a world of what-ifs.
Phrases like / If we pull the plug on the brain / Would we still be here? / If we pull the plug on the grid / are existential phrases that question one’s beliefs in their abilities and the heavy reliance on technology in our daily lives. And honestly, this is so punk rock. Not gonna lie.
“Throw Something At Me” starts with a distorted guitar lick that opens this aggressive drum pattern, and honestly, this track is the most poetic of all the songs on the LP. The song talks about transformation in the face of pain. This meaning is evident in phrases like / Whipping all the time / Swim against the tide / Anything – throw something at me /
The intro to the track, “When The Weed Helped,” sounds like a suspended pentatonic scale. For our non-musician friends, it’s a combination of notes that creates a sound closely resembling Egyptian music. It has an underlying grunge sound to it. It’s a sound reminiscent of Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots, just to name a few.
In this LP, we’ve heard a diss track, nihilism, and now we have “Pharma.” The song speaks about the dangers of pharmaceuticals and their effects.
“Old Man Kills” is another track with a rooted blues influence because of the progression in the first half. It becomes more interesting because of its progression change in the second half. It’s a smooth transition, even though the progression in the second half is somewhat progressive.
The tracks, “The Hassle” and “Bitches are Killing Me,” differ from the previous tracks due to their main progression. You can hear the grunge influence of the group.
Overall, “Better Never Than Late” is an album rich with topics outside of what you usually find in contemporary albums. It’s an album that can withstand the test of time, and I firmly believe that it’s a must-listen.
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About the Author
He has been in the music industry for two and a half decades. Currently, he plays bass guitar for a rock-reggae band called EnjointPh and a funk-fusion trio called Banky. He also hosts a podcast titled Usapang Musiko with Ervin Besana, which explores topics such as music, arts, and philosophy.
