Knuckle Puck from Chicago have released a gritty, anthemic new track called “Nice to Know Ya.” It picks up where “On All Cylinders” left off, continuing the steady stream of fresh material from this band.
In the group’s own words: “When writing Nice to Know Ya, we tried to take an older approach by keeping it as out-of-the-box as we could. This includes uglier chords, a spoken verse, and push-pull lyrics to match the juxtaposition of the verse and chorus. One of our goals for this band originally was to keep the listener guessing with our songwriting, something we are excited to bring back with this song.”
This track arrives in tandem with news of the band’s latest LP, Losing What We Love. It marks a shift toward harder truths without the sugarcoating they once layered into their songs. After thirteen years together and three albums under their belt, Knuckle Puck are leaning into the idea that no high point lasts forever, and that it’s better to face those transitions than resist them. The new record also acknowledges that familiar comforts can’t stay intact forever, even as it pays homage to what once was.
Seth Henderson (State Champs, Real Friends) produced Losing What We Love, which follows the 2022 Disposable Life EP and is the band’s first LP for Pure Noise Records.
The writing process found Knuckle Puck tapping back into the energy they conjured as teenagers, holed up in bedrooms and garages across Chicago’s south suburbs. There’s a newfound momentum here—one the members credit to a sense of unity that will keep them pushing forward.
That spirit isn’t lost on the people who pack sweaty clubs worldwide to sing and scream along with Joe Taylor and Nick Casasanto’s vocals. Even if the lyrics aren’t laced with as much optimism this time, the power and honesty in Knuckle Puck’s songs still give fans a rallying cry they can share in a moment of collective release.
Knuckle Puck are vocalist Joe Taylor, guitarist/vocalist Nick Casasanto, guitarist Kevin Maida, drummer John Siorek, and bassist Ryan Rumchaks.
