Knuckle Puck - Shapeshifter (2017)

Hailing from the southernmost suburbs of the Windy City, Chicago-based pop-punk unit Knuckle Puck formed in 2011 around the talents of John Siorek (drums), Joe Taylor (vocals), Nick Casasanto (guitar/vocals), Ryan Rumchaks (bass), and Kevin Maida (guitar). Specializing in a muscular and melodic blend of old-school punk rock and emo that's drawn comparisons to bands like the Wonder Years, the Story So Far, and Rise Against, the band put out a trio of self-released EPs (Knuckle Puck Demo [2011], Don't Come Home [2012], The Weight That You Buried [2013]) before inking a deal with Bad Timing Records, with whom they issued a pair of EPs (While I Stay Secluded and Weight That You Buried) in 2014. Another deal was struck, this time with Rise Records, and in the summer of 2015 Knuckle Puck finally released their debut album, Copacetic, making a solid showing on the alternative and hard rock charts as well as Billboard's Top 200. Tours of the U.S. and Europe followed, and in March 2017 the band delivered a 7" single featuring a pair of tunes, "Calendar Days" and "Indecisive." It was announced in the summer of that year that Knuckle Puck's sophomore LP, Shapeshifter, would arrive in October. ~ James Christopher Monger.