Looking at how it morphed and twisted over the course of 50 years, it’s still strange to think that the first word coming to my head when I think of punk as a genre is “versatile”. The DIY ethos and unadorned approach has spread to so many different styles and movements, and when it intersects with noise rock, hardcore and (using it since they do on their Bandcamp page) riot girl, you get Tonguecutter, a trio out of Muskegon, Michigan whose debut full-length Minnow has been playing non-stop on my turntable since discovering them back in May. Short, ferocious, and catchy as hell, it’s been my go-to when I have a lot of pent up frustration and stress that needs to come out.

Technically speaking, Minnow (no idea why the image has three n’s in it when the physical album and Bandcamp page clearly show the correct spelling) combines re-recordings of their debut EP Tupperware Party with six new songs. But those re-recordings inject a life into the songs that to my ears were missing from the solid if slight EP, and combined with the new workhorses like opener “Urgency” add layers of sludge, doom, and indie rock to the band’s sonic tapestry making for a fuller, more all-encompassing sound. I love how prominent the bass is from Derek Eagle, and for those sick of quantized, digital drum programming the massive analog drumming from Cam Polidan (auto-corrected to Pelican, thanks Apple) is up front and in your face, ready to crack your skull.

The third piece of the puzzle is guitarist and vocalist Chantal Roeske, and she shines as the beacon of the band. Tracks like “Tupperware Party” and “Big ‘Ol Tree” – both from the EP – showcase her powerful voice and confrontational lyrics that mean absolutely nothing business: whereas something like Lambrini Girls offers satirical tongue-in-cheek content, Tonguecutter’s name embodies their manifesto: these words mean to slice. And far from being a blunt instrument musically, the band aren’t afraid to show off their proficiency, with the title track having some great little single line riffs to offset the larger, blocky power chords that are the bread and butter of so many other bands in this sonic space.

With only one song over four minutes (the punishing closer “Bone To Pick”), Tonguecutter recall the thick, aggressive pluck of early Helmet and Learning Curve Records label mates Bronson Arm in their capacity to throw interesting nuggets of lines into their punk indie noise aesthetic. Minnow gets better with every listen, so if you’re looking for something to vent that anger, this might do it for you.