Politics. Alcohol. Drugs. AI. Declining mental health. Endless ads for low-testosterone pills. These are just some of the indignities that make up the miserable cocktail known as “life today.” And they’re also some of the things that pop up in “Punisher,” the latest (and aptly named) single from Milwaukee band Alley Eyes.
“Griffin’s showing women AI slop on his phone / Ashley asks for drugs if she can get you alone,” sings Colton Schroetter in the songs opening moments, which evoke a typical night out at a bar in 2026. “Sirens in the distance, yeah I think that’s my ride / And I’m choking all my words with a French 75.” Yep, sounds like a good time to split.
But Schroetter takes things even further in the song’s chorus:
I’m gonna cut all ties, all communication
No more talking, I just can’t take it
I’ll just go, if that’d be alright with you
“Punisher” is the second new Alley Eyes track since 2025’s five-song Bondage In The Afternoon. (It follows “My Love,” released in February.) That EP terrifically mined a glossed-up Strokes/’00s indie-sleaze vibe; “Punisher” delivers a slightly different vibe that’s both more anthemic and more hard-edged. It’s sure to sound BIG when the band plays Summerfest on June 27 at 12:30 p.m. on the Generac Power Stage.
Oh, and the cover art for “Punisher” is a blurry shot of the Oriental Theatre, so we’re going to assume the song’s “night out” takes place next door at Landmark Lanes.
Want more Milwaukee Record? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and/or support us on Patreon.
RELATED ARTICLES
• WMSE’s Local/Live: Alley Eyes
• Alley Eyes embrace the anthemic side of indie sleaze with excellent “No Good”