Launch Control – Science Friction (2025)
Unafraid to take bold steps into provocative areas of existence, punk band Launch Control offer social narratives bound in fiery music to inspire (or sometimes intimidate) the masses. We came across Launch Control with their 2020 single ‘Attention Economy’, where they explored “…the idea that human attention is a commodity”; today, we take another look and listen to Launch Control as they bravely delve once more into the grittier side of existence with ‘Science Friction’. Join us, won’t you?
Following the well-received 2025 singles ‘Hedge Fundamentalism’ and ‘Pax Britannica’, ‘Science Friction’ is a blast of late 90s/early 2000s pop-punk hitting you between the eyes. While the UK-based trio’s infusion of pop-punk is evident, ‘Science Friction’ appears harder, heavier, and hits you between the eyes with greater force than its predecessors. Lying alongside acts like Sum 41 and The Offspring, but with the ferocity of more vintage punk acts like Sex Pistols, ‘Science Friction’ is not for the faint-hearted.
Drawing together the talents of Lee Switzer-Woolf (vocals and bass), Alex J Steer (guitar and vocals), and Seb Olward (drums), ‘Science Friction’ blends powerful instrumentation with profound lyricism. The pounding drums crash behind, while a scorching guitar soars, and a bold bass pulsates in the melody. Made for the mosh-pit, there is insanity in the track; however, the production by Alex J Steer, with mastering by Dave Chang, acts as an invisible bubble keeping sanity and elegance to the punk madness.
Melodically, Launch Control brings the heat and sets a flame in your chest, inspiring you to take a stand, make your mark, and not be silenced by authority. Lyrically, it is as celebratory of this protest and demand for a damn good answer to the sinking boat that is our social reality. Launch Control explains:
“Following on from our previous singles, ‘Hedge Fundamentalism’ and ‘Pax Britannica’, ‘Science Friction’ is a more technical skate-punk track taking aim at the anti-science rhetoric and modern internet conspiracy theorism – ‘Myths evolve and swallow facts’”
Find out more about Launch Control on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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