Doc Rotten releasing 'Illusion to Choose' (prod. Pete of Bouncing Souls)

Trenton, NJ punks Doc Rotten only formed in 2017, but they’re already affiliating themselves with at least one veteran of the genre. Pete Steinkopf of The Bouncing Souls recorded their new EP, Illusion To Choose (due 8/31), and it wouldn’t be surprising if Doc Rotten caught on with fans of bands like The Bouncing Souls. They do a lot of justice to ’90s-style punk and they’re as razor-sharp as a lot of their heroes. Vocalist/guitarist Wes Bentley has a gruff roar that’s somewhere between Lars Frederiksen and Chuck Ragan, and there’s a Bad Religion-style whiplash driving their new song “Mind Control.” “‘Mind Control’ is about manipulating the population, causing division through fear, hate, and greed,” Wes tells us. Listen below.

Doc Rotten play a show at NJ’s Brighton Bar this Friday (8/17) and a hometown release show at Trenton’s Mill Hill Basement on 8/31, and they’re touring Japan and Europe in the fall. All dates are listed below.

Doc Rotten — 2018 US Tour Dates
AUG 17 Brighton Bar – Long Branch, NJ
AUG 18 Connie’s Ric Rac – Philadelphia, PA
AUG 31 Mill Hill Basement – Trenton, NJ