When the boundaries between dystopian nightmare and real life start to blur, is there any better way to stay sane than by finding catharsis and community in hardcore punk?

Detroit’s Big Life know exactly how you feel, and on their new 8-song EP The Cost of Progress, they make it loud and clear that you’re not alone. This isn’t just a record—it’s a pressure valve, a life raft, and a battle cry rolled into one. It’s an outlet for frustration, a buoy to keep you afloat, and a jolt to help you get up and resist.

The state of the world clearly shakes the members of Big Life (including ATW regular Ryan Allen), but instead of freezing them in place, it seems to unlock a new level—pushing them deeper into a Revolution Summer meets Our Band Could Be Your Life strain of emotionally-charged, politically-aware hardcore punk.

So scream along to Go Getter (“Moving faster and going noowheeeeere!”), blast Shoplifting at maximum volume, and be ready to be surprides by those horns that suddenly pop up in Killed Twice. This is a band that swings big, hits hard, and connects more powerfully than ever before with their strongest release to date.

The Cost of Progress is out today on Setterwind Records.

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