COSMIC JOKE "Forced Perspective" 12"

Direct from Southern California’s beautiful San Fernando Valley, Cosmic Joke is back with a new EP, Forced Perspective, co-released by Triple B Records and Hardlore Records and available everywhere in full on Tuesday, June 24th, 2025.  A limited edition first pressing of 1000 total vinyl records will be available from both labels in conjunction with the release. 

Recorded at The Pit Recording Studio in Sunland, CA in September of 2024, and produced, engineered and mixed by Taylor Young, the EP consists of four original tracks and one incredible cover. Forced Perspective pushes the band’s established fast and furious sound into more aggressive territory as they continue on a quest to bridge the gap between the gritty authenticity of 80s and 90s Los Angeles hardcore with the melodic harmonies and catchy hooks of SoCal skate punk, a masterful progression into unfamiliar territory while remaining true to their roots, both musical and geographic. 

In the titular track, vocalist Mac Miller takes aim at the warped reality and false perceptions that pervade meaningful discourse and progress in the world around us. A rousing cover of Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” rounds out the release and provides a familiar yet reimagined version of the legendary track, putting a SoCal spin on an NYC punk classic. 

As an added bonus, the first pressing vinyl version is b-sided with five additional tracks from the Welcome to L.A. EP released in February, 2025. Featuring guest vocal appearances by members of God’s Hate, Fleshwater, Lockslip, and Drain, Cosmic Joke covers iconic SoCal punk tracks by Bad Religion, X, Agent Orange, and Adolescents, along with an original track from their debut LP. This is the first time the Welcome to L.A. EP is being made available in physical format. 

Not just another hard hitting hardcore album, Forced Perspective is truly a love letter to the rich musical, and anti-authoritarian fabric of Southern California. Cosmic Joke is not only picking up the mantle of SoCal’s prolific subculture legacy, but crafting their own. One that marries the hardcore and punk of sunny Southern California yesterdays with a reinvigorated aggression and outlook, a fresh voice for a new world gone mad.

Tracklist:

Side A - Forced Perspective EP
01. Five Years Later
02. Forced Perspective
03. Quid Pro Quo
04. Complex Character Development
05. Psycho Killer (Talking Heads)

Side B - Welcome to L.A. EP
01. We’re Only Gonna Die (Bad Religion)
02. Los Angeles (X)
03. L.A. Girl (Adolescents)
04. Bloodstains (Agent Orange)
05. Cosmic Joke

Pressing Information: 
17 - Test Press
200 -Baby Blue / Apple Red Smash
200 -Half Baby Blue / Half Apple Red
600 -Beer w/Baby Blue & Apple Red Splatter