Punk rock has been around for ages, but in my humble opinion Faulty Cognitions is way up there in terms of the punkest band names. In psychology, cognitive distortions refer to erroneous thought patterns that skew one’s perception of reality, often leading to negative emotions and mental health challenges. From catastrophizing to black-and-white thinking, these distortions are ubiquitous themes in punk rock lyrics.
Enter Faulty Cognitions, a band that hails from San Antonio (Texas), features Chris Mason (of Dirt Cult Records, Low Culture and Shang-A-Lang) and arguably is one of the more exciting new punk bands of late. The band’s debut LP Somehow, Here We Are offers a potent antidote to these entrenched cognitive traps: heartfelt punk rock anthems delivered with a passion that is life-affirming. This is a record that rewires the cognitive landscape of your brain, and evokes cathartic release of your frustrations.
There are twelve songs on Somehow, Here We Are, with seven new songs alongside five rerecorded songs from their spectacular 2023 demo. Those “older” songs have lost none of their original power, and songs like Sad Sack and Let The Kids Have The Scene sound just as raw but are now also suited for speakers on a higher budget. And those new songs? They confirm that Faulty Cognitions’ should be at the top of punk rock bands to listen to right now. A song like Roller Skating At The End Of The World is a three minute punk rock clinic.
Somehow, Here We Are is out today on Dirt Cult Records and Cercle Social. It’s a must buy.
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