Real Sickies are back with a new single, “Triage,” the first taste of their upcoming album Under a Plastic Bag. Known for their relentless punk energy and knack for infectious hooks, this Edmonton outfit takes things to another level, channeling punk energy into melody with a rawness that feels electrifying. Produced by Joshua Wells, “Triage” delivers a gratifying sonic assault, reflecting the anxiety, adrenaline, and aftermath of survival.
Vocally, frontman Ben Disaster pushes his vocal delivery into your ear with fury in a way that makes every lyric feel like a confession screamed from the edge. His tone is jagged in its melodic flow, reminiscent of the gritty urgency of The Buzzcocks or Teenage Bottlerocket. The way he spits out lines like “Bite my lips, wanna scratch out my eyes” feels manic, visceral—like he’s barely holding the song together with sheer force of will. The controlled aression in his voice mirrors the song’s themes of physical and psychological triage, turning the performance into something deeply lived-in rather than simply performed.
“Triage” teeters on the reckless abandon with a laser-focused intent. The verses pulse with frantic energy, each syllable delivered with sharp precision, while the chorus explodes into a ragged anthem of self-destruction and resilience. There’s an undeniable edge to the way Disaster enunciates, each word landing like a punch, his phrasing tight and calculated, yet never losing its raw emotional weight.
Lyrically, the track is a visceral, unfiltered exploration of trauma and its aftermath. The repetition of “Bite my lips, wanna scratch out my eyes” creates a claustrophobic intensity, amplifying the internal turmoil that underscores the track. Lines like “Got no shine, I’m happy to bleed again / Except when bleeding becomes a crime” evoke a feeling of defiance wrapped in despair, the perfect encapsulation of punk’s ethos—turning pain into a battle cry.
Instrumentally, the band keeps the energy high with guitar riffs and driving drums and bass, but it’s Disaster’s vocal performance that sells the weight of “Triage.” There’s a palpable sense of urgency in the way he delivers each line, he attacks the words, making them feel lived-in and immediate.
Overall, “Triage” builds the excitement around Real Sickies’ ability to fuse raw punk aggression with anthemic singalong hooks. It’s a track that feels like it’s constantly teetering on the edge of collapse but holds together with sheer force of will—a perfect reflection of the chaos and resilience at its core. If this is any indication of what Under a Plastic Bag has in store, fans are in for a record that doesn’t just hit hard but leaves a lasting mark.
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