Punitive Damage by Ryan Rose
Punitive Damage by Ryan Rose
New Music

Hardcore band PUNITIVE DAMAGE is back with Hate Training, new EP on Convulse Records

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Pacific Northwest hardcore act PUNITIVE DAMAGE is back with Hate Training, a six-track EP out today via Convulse Records, bringing a compact but fierce follow-up to their 2022 debut This Is The Blackout.

Produced by Jesse Gander (who’s worked with JAPANDROIDS, BRUTUS, and SUBHUMANS) and mixed by Taylor Young (DRAIN, MILITARIE GUN, GOD’S HATE), the EP cranks up the intensity of their sound, led by vocalist Jerkova and backed by guitarists Czecho and Teejer1, drummer Alejandro, and bassist Kermit.

Jerkova calls the release an expression of resistance against recurring cycles of propaganda and dehumanization, noting, “Time after time…we fall for the hate training served to us.”

From historic atrocities to modern conflicts, her lyrics challenge the narratives fed by empires, where populations are manipulated into viewing others as “subhuman boogymen.”

The EP’s title track opens with a concise, explosive burst, channeling themes of selective compassion and everyday gaslighting. Jerkova’s repeated refrain, “Deny, deny, obliterate,” drives home her criticism of society’s inclination to overlook reality in favor of sanitized, politically convenient narratives. “People in my life try to convince me to reject objective truth,” she says, confronting this with unapologetic force.

Tracks like “Plaster Saints” pull no punches either, packing a visceral critique of historical and current oppressions into 34 seconds of brutal, unrelenting music. Guitarist Czecho’s background as the child of a WWII refugee lends depth to these reflections, recalling how his father fled violence and occupation only to carry the impact throughout his life.

This personal history, combined with the band’s larger anti-oppression message, frames the EP’s lyrical intensity.

“All or Nothing” features guest vocals from Jess Nyx (MORTALITY RATE, WORLD OF PLEASURE), offering another perspective in its indictment of selective compassion and societal callousness. Jerkova lays down a stark message: “Selective compassion, right to live at your discretion, humanity upon request.”

For her, it’s a demand for unconditional empathy, a rejection of half-hearted solidarity. “It’s my criticism of the duplicitousness of humanity,” she explains, underscoring her commitment to raising awareness for issues like Palestinian sovereignty.

The EP, available now on streaming platforms and for order through Convulse Records.

Upcoming Shows:

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

Karol Kamiński

DIY rock music enthusiast and web-zine publisher from Warsaw, Poland. Supporting DIY ethics, local artists and promoting hardcore punk, rock, post rock and alternative music of all kinds via IDIOTEQ online channels.
Contact via [email protected]

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