Berkshire's best kept Punk Rock secret tell us how fucked the world is!
Reading-based band Launch Control are socio-political punks, who have been together since 2011. They have released three EPs, one short album, and had their single ‘My Name Is Santa and I’m a Punk Rocker’ featured on ‘Rodney on the Rock Presents Santa’s Got a GTO, Vol 2’. ‘The Omnipotent Wage’ is their first full length album.
Meet Launch Control:
Lee Switzer-Woolf – Vocals & bass
Alex J Steer – Guitar & vocals
Seb Olward – Drums
The band released ‘Hedge Fundamentalism’ on 20th February 2025, taking aim at the dangerous dark heart of capitalism. It is also the lead single from the album:
Launch Control released the second single from ‘The Omnipotent Wage’, ‘Pax Britannica’, on 30th April 2025, which is about modern day colonial attitudes:
Third single ‘Science Friction’ was released on 11th June 2025, about which the band said; “In the last few years we’ve seen conspiracy theories become mainstream and switch from ‘Kubrick filmed the moon landing’ to dangerous anti-science and anti-medicine rhetoric.”
The haunting fourth single ‘Plastic Fruit’ sees Launch Control take their foot off the punk rock pedal to explore the disillusionment and existential dread that accompanies living within the vacuum of power. It was released on 23rd July 2025, with the band quoting “This one is a little bit different to the singles we’ve released so far”:
‘The Omnipotent Wage’ has thoughtful, socially conscious lyrics with hard-hitting high tempo punk rock, and incorporates genre-bending influences from metal to hip-hop, including electronic elements. There is a centralised theme throughout the album – money, power, and control, and the misuse of it all.
Now, on to the review I go! So much openness within the lyrics about how the world is basically fucked with the abuse of money, power, and control. A mixture of electronic, hip-hop, and punk rock, Launch Control express it all extremely well.
There are some heavier moments, some upbeat moments, and some slower moments, but all show a lot of passion. The band know how to pull in an audience with their harmonisation, emotions, and honesty. It has some catchy, danceable moments as well as some sing along and headbangable moments. I was also very surprised to hear Dan Tape from Tape It Shut featured in the single ‘Pressipice’, it was such a treat! If you agree with the band about how fucked up the world is, then check this album out!
‘The Omnipotent Wage’ will be released on 3rd September 2025. It was recorded, mixed, and produced by Alex himself. The album was mastered by Dave Chang (4ft Fingers / Capdown). All lyrics were written by Lee, who also did the artwork, plus the additional engineering, mixing, and production.
Pre-order ‘The Omnipotent Wage’ on Digital and CD HERE – you really don’t want to miss this impressive and essential album!
- Hedge Fundamentalism
- Punishment For Profit (Detention Economy)
- Pax Britannica
- …And While We Were Sleeping The Money Crept In
- Pressipice
- Coercive Force
- Warnography
- State Of Agency
- Plastic Fruit
- Science Friction
- Prospermill
- Everything Is Fine, Stay Calm
Follow Launch Control on Their Socials:
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I’ve been going to gigs since I was 18 years old, and have loved them ever since. They are my second home. I enjoy discovering new bands, meeting punks of different ages, and learning more about the scene. I sing, play guitar, and learning the drums. Punk for life!
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