Counterpunch - Handbook For The Recently Debriefed 7"

Labels: SBÄM Records/Thousand Islands Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 29 Jan 2021

Tracklist:

1. Handbook For The Recently Debriefed

2. We, The Role

When I'm not listening to or writing about all manner of heavy music, I'm either watching The Simpsons, playing Football Manager or listening to punk. I found my way to heavier music through it, mainly thanks to pop-punk bands in the early 00's such as Blink-182, New Found Glory and pretty much anything else that Drive-Thru Records touched. Melody was key at that time and I still go in search of it today, which is where Chicago's Counterpunch come in. They released a little two-song 7" back in January but because I'm behind on my discovering, this is the first opportunity I've had to sit down and listen to it. It was released back in January on three different vinyl variants by Austrian label SBÄM Records (for Europe) and Canadian/US label Thousand Islands Records (for CAN/US).

This 7” doesn’t even breach the five-minute mark, so it’s a brief but high-octane return for Counterpunch, who previously hadn’t released anything since their 2014 album Bruises. The 7”s title-track ‘Handbook For The Recently Debriefed’ sounds like Millencolin jamming with NOFX and Hot Water Music. It’s a proper sing-along punk song with breakneck percussion and big, upbeat riffs.

Second song ‘We, The Role’ follows the same formula. The vocal harmonies are perfect and the whole thing reminds of when I was a teenager, trying to graduate from inline skates to a skateboard (and doing very badly at it!). Like falling over and scraping your knees, this little EP is infectious from start to end. 

It’s over in a flash but it’s worth it. Handbook For The Recently Debriefed is the best way to wet your appetite  (because rumour has it, there’s a fresh record on the way). 

You can stream and purchase the 7" digitally below:-

Counterpunch - https://www.facebook.com/counterpunchrok

Physical vinyl copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

SBÄM Records - https://shop.sbam.rocks/collections/music/products/counterpunch-7

Thousand Islands Records - https://thousandislandsrecords.com/product-category/counterpunch/

SBÄM Records - https://www.facebook.com/SBAM.ROCKS

Thousand Islands Records - https://www.facebook.com/thousandislandsrecords