LA has never lacked loud bands, but XCOMM sound like they actually mean it. “Fake ID” hits with that familiar punk-meets-hardcore tension where speed, control, and attitude are all pulling in the same direction.
The song doesn’t waste time. It kicks in fast, sharp, and physical, built around a driving rhythm section and guitars that stay abrasive without turning sloppy. There’s hardcore weight in the delivery, but the structure keeps things rooted in punk rather than pure breakdown territory.
Vocals sit right up front, raw and confrontational, matching the song’s theme of authenticity and frustration. “Fake ID” feels like it’s pushing back against being boxed in, questioned, or forced to prove something that shouldn’t need proving in the first place. It’s direct without being preachy, aggressive without losing focus.
What works here is restraint. XCOMM don’t overplay their hand. The shifts in tempo and intensity feel intentional, not chaotic. The song holds together like something written for a live room rather than a screen, and you can easily imagine it hitting harder in a sweaty LA venue than through headphones.
The production stays rough enough to keep the edge intact. Nothing feels overworked or smoothed out. It sounds like a band capturing momentum rather than polishing it away.
This release reinforces XCOMM’s place in the LA punk/HC landscape: a young band that isn’t afraid to push hard and refuse polish when attitude matters more.
