With Welcome to L.A., Cosmic Joke taps into the unruly spirit of West Coast punk with a gritty, heartfelt benefit EP that pays tribute to some of the genre’s most iconic anthems. Covering Bad Religion, X, Adolescents, and Agent Orange, Cosmic Joke doesn’t just rehash old material—they inject every track with their own jagged energy, modern urgency, and a welcome dose of chaos. The production is raw, the performances are loose but passionate, and the vibe is undeniable: dirty, sweaty punk played for the right reasons.

Opening with a punch, “We’re Only Gonna Die” (originally by Bad Religion) sets the tone with blown-out guitars, dynamic but grimy drums, and a deep, thumping bass that carries the track. There’s a clear love for the source material, but it’s filtered through Cosmic Joke’s own snarl. Guest vocals from Colin Young (God’s Hate, Twitching Tongues) offer a surprising but refreshing contrast—his gruff delivery slots perfectly into the rawness of the mix, pulling him far from his usual style and into something almost desperate and pissed. The main vocals hold their own too, cutting through the murk with gritty, no-bullshit force.

The tribute continues on “Los Angeles” (X), where the interplay between male and female vocals brings a whole new texture to the classic punk track. The bass here is especially deep and fuzzy, giving the cover a heavier bottom end than the original while the rough-edged guitars and trashy, reverb-laced drums give it a messy, beautiful energy. The female vocals shine, dripping with reverb and emotion that contrasts the raw snarl of the lead. It's a standout moment that shows Cosmic Joke understands the balance between honoring a song’s roots and pushing it into new territory.

That balance continues with “L.A. Girl” (Adolescents), which turns up the tempo and leans into a more modern punk rage. The screamed vocals are scratchy and almost falling apart, but that’s what makes them perfect—they belong in this space. Groovy, low-end riffs roll underneath, providing structure while the chaos unfolds on top. Swapping in a new vocal approach here keeps things feeling fresh and injects a nice sense of venom and immediacy.

“Bloodstains” (Agent Orange) might be the grimiest of the bunch—slow, swampy riffs and grainy vocals give it a darker tone, but it still grooves with purpose. Sammy from Drain lends his voice to the track, and it’s a seamless fit. When the two vocal styles collide and layer over one another, it creates a thick, noisy wall that’s more chaotic than precise—but that’s the point. This isn’t about studio polish—it’s about capturing a feeling.

The EP closes with “Cosmic Joke,” the only original track—and it’s a pogo-ready banger that fits perfectly alongside the covers. The riffs are bouncy, distorted, and built for moving in tight, sweaty venues. The drums are simple but smart, constantly shifting to keep the energy unpredictable. The gang vocals and layered shouting inject a jolt of life that makes the song explode. It’s pure, infectious punk energy, grounded in the old but staring straight into the now.

What ties Welcome to L.A. together is its genuine sense of respect—for the punk bands that shaped the scene, and for the community it’s meant to support. The raw production, the imperfect performances, the scrappy mixing—it all serves a bigger purpose: to preserve the heart of punk in a moment that feels urgent and real. Cosmic Joke doesn’t just wear their influences on their sleeves; they thrash and scream them out into the open.

This isn’t about nailing every note—it’s about nailing the feeling. And Welcome to L.A. does that from start to finish.