Launch Control – We Are… ‘Behind Redacted Lines’.

Launch Control – Reading, England, United Kingdom.

For a quick look at the band and their label – Click Here.

The Umlaut Records rostered Launch Control hail from Reading. A city that not only has a very confusing train station but also a penchant for driven, strongly worded and melodic Punk-Rock music; apparently.

Back to Launch Control. The band have been slogging it out since 2015 and have been far from idle. Citing some of the more prominent notables in the socio-political Punk music of the last thirty years, as well as some of the most musically influential, the band recently dropped their brand new EP born of the rising frustration of the British people on the back of the country’s Punk-Rock tradition.

Influences: ‘MxPx, Anti-Flag, Rise Against, The Black Pacific, Bad Religion Lagwagon, No Use For A Name‘

\\Behind Redacted Lines//

Despite the instrumentation taking cues from North American Punk-Rock, Launch Control take that British adaptability and create a stark contrast between hard-Skate Punk and strong English vocal tones with opener, ‘Cloak & Dagger Pt 2’.

Fans of wordsmiths Greg Graffin of Bad Religion, Tim McIlrath of Rise Against or Russ Rankin of Good Riddance/Only Crime will find something in the releases’ forerunner, ‘A Perfect Murder’. Musically speaking you’re presented with an anthemic, albeit down-tempo Skate Punk formula that doesn’t need to be anything other than what it is.

‘We build ourselves up in these catalogue rooms, until we’re lost in the catacombs of the life we buy, of the death we choose – and it’s the perfect murder‘

‘False Witness’ follows the former in pace for the most part but on the whole feel’s flatter musically. Lyrically however it’s more than on point and the melodic guitar lines are strong but as a track it’s filler. It’s still a solid track but could use a considerably faster and more aggressive approach.

Upon hearing the the electronic humming of ‘Dying Echo’ alarms bells rang in my head as they do whenever I hear this direction on a Punk release, not full on panic but considerable scepticism. Luckily, this is but a interlude and another reason to read up on the lyrical listing on bandcamp.

‘Moving Targets’ is a return to the metaphorical throttle and the “fist-in-the-air” anthem to break these redacted lines. It’s nothing breakthrough musically but again, doesn’t need to be and shows a side to the band I would want hear more off in its unison of musical and lyrical distaste.

Closer, ‘A Highly Classified Line’ reminds me of Denver’s The Windermeres who are a band you really need to look into if you are enjoying this release.

I digress and if I’m honest its almost annoying how quotable this band are. Musically they are on point and for the most part it’s a very “if it ain’t broke” stand point but lyrically, Launch Control are the disenfranchised, disaffection, critique and heart of Punk-Rock and the melodic delivery really completes this contrast.

‘We hide behind redacted lines,
An honest life is hard to find, when even the lies – are classified’

You can find Launch Control HQ and Umlaut Records below:

• You can find Launch Control on Facebook and Twitter.
• To stream the band’s music, head Apple Music and Spotify and for downloads iTunes, Amazon and bandcamp.
• For hard copies and the Umlaut records roster – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and bigCartel.

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