Brooklyn punk band Heavy Lag come out swinging on their latest EP Paranoid Acts of Desperation, a five-track burst of raw energy and melodic grit, out now via Bloated Kat Records.
Tracked live to tape at Bananaland Studio and mastered by Will Killingsworth, the EP captures the band at their most immediate—fast, fuzzy, and full of hooks. From the 30-second opener “Mind Control” to the Hüsker Dü-nodding “Hüsker Døn’t,” Heavy Lag balances brevity with depth, landing somewhere between dirt-pop urgency and melodic punk charm.
Standouts like “That Girl” and “I Don’t Wanna Be Around (You)” ride infectious choruses over scuffed guitars and pounding drums. It’s punk that wears its heart and distortion on its sleeve—scrappy, tuneful, and made to be played loud in basements and backyards.
Released on limited-run cassette and backed by a run of Midwest shows, Paranoid Acts of Desperation feels like the product of a band fully in stride—tight, honest, and unbothered by polish. For fans of DIY punk with bite and bounce, this one’s a must-spin.
