
Somerset Thrower return with Take Only What You Need to Survive, their fourth LP and perhaps their most focused to date. Out now via Smartpunk Records, the album channels everything the Long Island crew does best: big hooks, emotional urgency, and airtight melodic punk with heart.
Tracked with Jon Markson (Drug Church, Taking Meds) at Animal Farm Studios, the record leans into clarity without sacrificing punch. Opener “Free Time” sets the tone with driving guitars and reflective lyrics, while “Motor City”—a clear standout—follows with a mid-tempo surge built around friendship, purpose, and sticking it out. Early single “Never Going To Therapy” hinted at the emotional core of the album, and deeper cuts like “Brooklyn Zoo” and “Shinebox” round it out with energy and warmth.
With over a decade behind them and shared stages with the likes of Glassjaw, Supercrush, and Rival Schools, Somerset Thrower sound more locked-in than ever. The record is available now on multiple vinyl variants, including a clear/neon pink splatter that matches the album’s emotional glow.
Take Only What You Need to Survive is melodic punk done right—raw but refined, grounded but full of motion.
🎧 Favorite Track: “Motor City”
A love letter to band life and the bonds that keep it alive, “Motor City” is all heart and no filler—catchy, layered, and quietly anthemic.