Smartpunk Records' metal powerhouses Wounded Touch embrace elements of 2000s metalcore and mathcore in their short but densely-packed, majorly heavy single "Submitted For (Dis)Approval." The band recorded the upcoming split EP Traumatic Entanglement with Matt Marquez from Norma Jean and they share the tracklist with fellow metal band FallFiftyFeet.
Since their inception, the Michigan outfit has used musical guerilla campaign tactics and a resilient DIY work ethic to make their way onto nationwide festivals and a full UK tour while gaining notoriety from metal's top publications including Metal Hammer and New Noise.
Speaking about the new single, Wounded Touch says, "'Submitted For (Dis)Approval' shifted from an intro riff into a whole song right before we played the Furnace Fest '23 kickoff show while putting new material together for the set. Thematically, it's about the artist's relationship to the audience and being willing to do anything for their applause and approval, including self-harm and death. We just tried to not think too hard and have fun jamming something out after deciding we wanted to have a 'Go!' mosh call in something."
The band announces upcoming split EP with FallFiftyFeet, titled Traumatic Entanglement, via Smartpunk Records on August 23, 2024. Pre-save here.
Artwork: Arif Suhaimi of Wormrot
ABOUT WOUNDED TOUCH
Even since their infancy, the Michigan outfit Wounded Touch have used musical guerilla campaign tactics to make their way onto the likes of The Fest, Furnace Fest '21 and '23 official pre-shows, SXSW, tour the United Kingdom, and sell out the first pressing of their debut LP while fighting for every inch of ground not given. Bringing influence through the scope of the nostalgic 2000s metalcore/mathcore sound, the band aims to always keep their heads down, remain humble, and push forward through any means necessary if it means continuing to be loud, noisy, and frantic on as many stages as possible.
ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.
"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.