Single Review: Doc Rotten – Sick & Suffering EP

Doc Rotten have been together less than a year, but they have already managed to bang out a string of high-energy tracks that walk a line of sweet and snarl. Formed from the pieces of defunct punk bands, the Trenton, NJ quartet will be releasing their sophomore EP Sick & Suffering independently on March 29th. Doc Rotten will be applying their blue collar work ethic to promoting the EP and band will be on the road for most of 2018, only breaking from their gruelling tour schedule to head back into the studio, starting in the US next month, Japan in September, and Europe in October.

The rattling bass line of Gates gives way to powerhouse drumming and frantic guitars that makes for a tantalising opening to Sick & Suffering, their straight up full tilt punk rock bleeds over into the equally impressive trio of tracks that follow, Last Chance, Federation and Listen Up. Only the EP’s title track carries a slower pace, and as a result it’s the sole track that edges just over the three minute mark, and it makes for a stunning finale to the Sick & Suffering EP.

The Sick & Suffering EP is a faultless quintet of short sharp blasts of melodic punk rock and Doc Rotten are a band that contain the essence of classic American punk bands such as Social Distortion, The Street Dogs and The Bouncing Souls, as well carrying the spirit of the first wave of bands from the UK punk scene. I could go on about the impression that this EP made on me, but all you really need to know about the Sick & Suffering EP is that is the best release I’ve encountered so far in 2018, and after hearing it I immediately bought their debut EP, Fallout.

Doc Rotten‘s website can be found here and their Bandcamp is here