A very strong beginning that is hopefully a long way from the end!
Formed in 2025 in the ‘Heart of Belgium’ Hardcore punks Caught Up are about to release their debut six track EP, ‘The End Begins’. Heavily inspired by bands such as Good Riddance and Pennywise, Daan Sneyers (vocals), Joost Vankerckhoven (drums), Maarten Geraerts (bass) and guitarist Kevin Nijs all have experience in various bands (Funeral Dress, No Turning Back, Face The Fax and Solenaid) and describe their sound as “Fast, old-school, melodic and aggressive Punk rock”.
‘The End Begins’ starts with the title track, a menacing bass leads into an explosive start, time changes, harmonies and subtle flourishes help build the song with force, the kick pedal of Vankerckhoven’s drums providing the impetus seeming imploring his bandmates to match his energy. This is solid stuff, strong vocal delivery covering a surprising range and the song certainly shows that, although only a year into its existence, Caught Up seem to have emerged fully formed.
A low energy, high impact guitar riff opens ‘Daily Grind’, which has an airiness that drifts above the power beneath it. Again, this song is a fine demonstration of restrained aggression. There’s force and energy in bundles, but it’s controlled, tempered even, but not to the detriment of the song or the sound.
More light shines out from ‘Exit Strategy’. Bass and guitar combine with a bouncy riff, underpinned by driving drums. There is a controlled power to the song, and it helps emphasise the anger of the vocal delivery. Kevin gets to demonstrate his lead guitar skills with a perfectly judged slew of fret work.
‘All The Right Wrongs’ cranks things up a notch, demonstrating force, speed and power. The drums pull the whole thing along at a breakneck pace. Of course, as Caught Up seem to enjoy a surprise, there’s a break for a little funky bass before it’s back for a vocal straining climax. A short and perfectly formed number.
There’s a melancholy feel to ‘You Break Me To Protect Me’, not just in the title but the way this song is crafted, the chord structure, the vocal delivery. It all combines together and covers the listener in a thin layer of sadness, although it’s a good sadness, a comforting sadness.
‘Bye, Bye Lullaby’ begins with a slow intro and then takes off, again there’s power, again there’s a heartfelt vocal performance but again there are the unexpected elements, a female vocal pops up unexpectedly, the piano outro could fit into an Eminem tune! It all works, it all fits, it all makes sense.
The Box Tops, Al Green, Joe Cocker, and Caught Up are four very different artists with one common link. The EP closes out with a cover version of the 1967 Box Tops tune, ‘The Letter’, and it is a wonder. I’m not sure how Alex Chilton (who wrote the song) would feel about it, but it works perfectly and displays the band’s strengths perfectly, musical ability, understanding and balance. There’s humour in this rendition too, which fits it just right.
Caught Up like to mix things up, there is no need for restrictions or restraint, they have enough confidence in both themselves and their audience to add something different. There’s a feeling of a band that wants to push themselves, that aren’t prepared to be confined by preconceptions. ‘The End Begins’ is a very strong beginning that is hopefully a long way from the end!
Catch Caught Up live at the EP release show on 06.06.26 in Leuven, Belgium or on
13.06.26 at Blije Bakkes Street Fair Takeover, 2580 Putte, Belgium.
Dropping on 4th June 2026 via White Russian Records, listen to ‘The End Begins’ HERE
- The End Begins
- Daily Grind
- Exit Strategy
- All The Right Wrongs
- You Break Me To Protect Me
- Bye Bye Lullaby
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