There’s punk rock, and then there’s punk with a purpose—music that doesn’t just rage for the sake of rebellion, but aims to wake people up. Enter Launch Control, the Reading-based, socio-political punk rock trio who just unleashed their latest single, “Hedge Fundamentalism,” on February 20, 2025. It’s a track that doesn’t just call out capitalism’s suffocating grip—it tears into it with unapologetic ferocity.
From the moment the first chord slashes through the air, Hedge Fundamentalism makes its intentions clear. Crunching guitars, relentless drums, and biting lyrics collide in a high-energy assault on the exploitative culture of modern economics. If you’ve ever felt like you’re working just to survive, trapped in a system designed to keep you exhausted, this song isn’t just for you—it’s about you.
The lyrics, penned by Lee Switzer-Woolf, cut straight to the bone, exposing the inescapable reality of a world where money dictates freedom. Whether driven by greed or desperation, we are all, in one way or another, radicalized into the doctrine of “Hedge Fundamentalism”—a life where we trade our time, our energy, and sometimes even our sanity for survival.
Musically, Hedge Fundamentalism blends modern punk production with the raw energy of early 2000s “P-Rock” icons like NOFX and Bad Religion. It’s fast, aggressive, and melodically sharp, a perfect storm of protest and adrenaline. The driving guitars are thick and menacing, the drums hit with unrelenting urgency, and the vocals carry anthemic, razor-sharp conviction.
This isn’t just a return for Launch Control—it’s a statement. Their last release, Attention Economy (2020), took aim at the information age’s power struggles, but Hedge Fundamentalism zooms in on something even more immediate and personal—the reality of living under a system that forces people into financial servitude. It’s an evolution of their message, proving that their fire hasn’t dimmed in the slightest.
The track was recorded, mixed, and produced by Alex J Steer, with mastering by Dave Chang (Capdown, Stampin’ Ground, 4ft Fingers)—two names that guarantee this song punches hard where it needs to. The sound is polished but not overproduced, letting the band’s raw energy and unfiltered message shine through with every searing guitar riff and shouted lyric.
What sets Hedge Fundamentalism apart isn’t just its political message—it’s how well it delivers it. Instead of relying on abstract anger, Launch Control turns the daily struggles of the working class into an electrified punk anthem. The frustration is palpable, the rebellion contagious, and the energy unstoppable.
This is the first taste of their forthcoming debut album, The Omnipotent Wage, and if Hedge Fundamentalism is any indication, the album is shaping up to be a furious, high-voltage manifesto for everyone sick of being stuck in a system built to drain them dry.
For fans of punk that actually says something, this is a must-listen. If you’ve ever felt like you’re living to work instead of working to live, then this song is the soundtrack to your frustration. Launch Control doesn’t just make noise—they make revolutionary, necessary music.
So turn it up loud. Let the message sink in. And ask yourself: how much longer will we accept this cycle?
