Boston noise rock concern Pew Pew are “industrial”, though less in sound and more in practicality. Long screwdrivers run across strings, aluminum neck guitars, capos on bass, martial drum rolls: these are becoming the hallmarks for one of the city’s most hotly-tipped live acts. Fronter M and co. have built an ever-growing legend on just a double A-side single (which astute readers will recall we premiered last spring ahead of their set at our Zone 3 Concert Series) that offered a tantalizingly brief taste of their tightly-wound guitar mangling. Staffed by members of, like every other good band in town right now it comes as no surprise that their second act (a new EP entitled Purgatory) more than delivers on the promise of the first, revealing an inventive band that pools some well-worn influences into a vision that feels distinctly their own.

Choosing layered, at times agonizing bouts of attack and release over the explosive spray of their earlier material, the band is at their best (to these ears at least) on moments like the simmering-to-a-boil title track and the instrumental “Song for Peter” which recalls the controlled chaos of 90’s noise rock imps Polvo. However, it’s the breakdown partway through closer “Blackmail” in which they pull everything away only to bring back the nasty riff a few decibels higher that feels most like a defining indie rock moment in 2026. In any case, they are are in exceptional form throughout, proving to be one of the leading lights of this era’s class.

Purgatory is out now, you can grab it on tape, cd, or digital below.