Chicago's Knuckle Puck specialize in a muscular and melodic blend of old-school punk rock and emo. Following a series of buzzed-about EPs in the 2010s, the band gained wider attention with their 2014 full-length Copacetic and its 2017 follow-up Shapeshifter.

Hailing from the southernmost suburbs of the Windy City, pop-punk unit Knuckle Puck formed in 2010 around the talents of John Siorek (drums), Joe Taylor (vocals), Nick Casasanto (guitar/vocals), Ryan Rumchaks (bass), and Kevin Maida (guitar). Drawing well-earned comparisons to bands like the Wonder Years, the Story So Far, and Rise Against, the band put out a trio of self-released EPs (Knuckle Puck Demo [2011], Don't Come Home [2012], and The Weight That You Buried [2013]) before inking a deal with Bad Timing Records, which issued a pair of EPs (While I Stay Secluded and Weight That You Buried) in 2014.

Another deal was struck, this time with Rise Records, and in the summer of 2015, Knuckle Puck finally released their debut album, Copacetic, which made a solid showing on the alternative and hard rock charts as well as Billboard's Top 200. Tours of the U.S. and Europe followed, and in March 2017 the band delivered a 7" single featuring a pair of tunes, "Calendar Days" and "Indecisive." Later that summer, Knuckle Puck released "Gone," the first of three singles from their sophomore LP, Shapeshifter, which arrived in October 2017. The group's third LP, 20/20, arrived in August of its titular year, heralded by the singles "RSVP" and "Breathe." ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi