Canadian punk band Neuroleptix return with “Kill the Taxman,” their first new single in roughly two years, and it sounds exactly like a band that never cared about sanding down the edges. Instead of going for something clean or overproduced, they lean into a rougher, more personal approach that makes the track feel immediate and honest.
The recording has a clear lo fi character, but not in a lazy way. It feels intentional, like the band wanted the song to sound lived in rather than dressed up. The guitars scrape, the drums push forward without fuss, and everything sits close and direct in the mix. It gives the track a kind of intimacy that suits the mood, like you’re hearing it from the room it was written in rather than through a filter.
Musically, “Kill the Taxman” sits in a good middle ground between modern urgency and old school punk instinct. It’s fast, straightforward, and built on momentum, but it doesn’t sound like a nostalgia act. You can hear the classic punk roots, yet the pacing and structure feel current, like a band that knows the tradition but isn’t stuck replaying it.
The vocals are one of the track’s strongest points. They’re right up front, slightly rough, and very human. Nothing feels smoothed out for comfort. The delivery makes the song feel more like a personal outburst than a polished statement, which fits both the sound and the attitude.
The title does what a good title should do. It provokes, it sets a tone, and it hints at frustration without turning the song into a cartoon slogan. The track itself stays grounded in feeling rather than preaching, which makes it hit harder than if it tried to be clever about it.
Coming back after a couple of quiet years, Neuroleptix didn’t try to announce themselves with something big or glossy. They came back with something raw, focused, and very much their own. “Kill the Taxman” feels like a band picking up where they left off, but with a bit more weight behind the punch.
