In this week's installment of this column, we are going to look at the brand new visceral release from Minneapolis punk duo Dirty Junk. On Yr Knees is the follow up to their debut full-length Snot. To say it's a more accomplished sibling to their debut would be a grave disservice to it. The musicianship, production, and songwriting have improved in the time between the two releases, but the unbridled energy and rage have remained a constant.
What initially sold me on this release was the title track of the EP. I don't think I have ever had the wind knocked out of me by just a song alone. The cacophony of drums and dissonant guitars mixed with vocals of guitarist Renn Fontana create a slurry of sound. It provides the perfect unsettling score to a story of revenge against an abuser.
To me, what makes On Yr Knees stand out against the sea of punk releases is its incredibly dynamic songs. The opening track, "Ten Thousand," rises and falls to build tension and transition into the slow-burning "Sinker Swim." These creative decisions make it ever apparent that Dirty Junk took time to make these songs live and breathe.
Dirty Junk knocked it out of the park with their 2019 release On Yr Knees. Where their debut could sometimes feel like they were throwing everything at the listener at once, this EP shows a calculated musical effort from the band to create a frantic sonic landscape. If you're a fan of the band Perfect Pussy, Dirty Junk is the band for you. They are everything that is currently right in the Minneapolis punk scene.
Favorite tracks: "Ten Thousand," "On Yr Knees," "Golden Plates"
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