The debut EP from Atlanta’s Upchuck opens with a tight drumline-esque solo and minimalistic guitar that make you want to start moving even before singer KT comes in with some percussive vocalizing. It’s at times unleashed and at times restrained, and it’s this tension that makes the Upchuck EP feel like a rousing success.

Hand drawn cover to Upchuck record

The music is punk for sure, but within that broad spectrum, it’s hard to categorize. On tracks like “Cross Fire,” there are hints of the early, playful Coathangers records—catchy guitar progressions, roaring hooks, stuff you can dance to. Thirty seconds later, it’s the late 2000s and I’m back in high school at a metal show at the Drunken Unicorn, preparing for a mosh pit and watching a singer climb the rafters. But this feels smarter than most of that stuff. It feels like this band has something new to say, some message shouted from the intersection of hardcore, metal, garage rock, and hip-hop. They’re not saying it in a way that feels lazy or forced, and there’s no specific formula—not even one they came up with themselves. They’re trying on different sounds, and, more importantly, they’re editing. With the exception of “Reaper,” these songs clock in between one and two-and-a-half minutes.

My favorite track, “Scruggdust,” is more melodic and less percussion-driven. It highlights the variety of tones in KT’s voice, which can handle both bass-heavy chanting and scratchy, higher-tone melodies. Over the course of the song, we get a variety of dynamic movements—a staccato storytelling rhythm dissolves into a pensive-sounding hook, then we’re back into storytelling, then back into a moment of reflection before the whole thing suddenly unravels into a burst of feedback that sounds like a UFO beaming somebody up. Overall, the effect is a tightly controlled release, and I love it.

Keep it up, Upchuck—I can’t wait to hear more.

Upchuck will perform on Tue., Feb. 18 at 529 alongside Warish and Playytime. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is $10. 21+ to enter.

More Info
Bandcamp: upchuckatl.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @_upchuck_