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Today, North of England melodic hardcore newcomers Bonny Lad unveil their debut single “The Discourse,” the first taste of their forthcoming EP Hard-fought, out June 19 via Cat’s Claw, Double Felix, Disconnect Disconnect, No Reason and Punk Rock Radar. Produced by Jonny Rob at Deptford Sound Studios in Sunderland, “The Discourse” is fast, technical and urgent. It's a breakneck melodic hardcore anthem tackling resilience in the face of discrimination, subjugation and militaristic aggression. The track also features guest vocals from Danny of Fair Do’s / Blagged!

“The Discourse is an ideal first single for us, in that it captures exactly what Bonny Lad was created to achieve: fast, riffy punk tunes that are actually about something," says Johnny Walker. "There’s a lot of noise online from people who think politics doesn’t belong in skatepunk. That opinion, it’s fair to say, is bollocks.”

Featuring members of The Human Project, Bear Trade and Tripdash, Bonny Lad channel the speed and melody of early-2000s skatepunk heroes like Slick Shoes and Rufio, fused with the political urgency of Propagandhi and sharpened by the grit, experience and unmistakable Northern voices of its members. Rooted in the North’s working-class history and solidarity, Hard-fought pays tribute to the struggles of mining communities and reminds us that collective resistance matters now more than ever.

The accompanying video, directed by drummer Joe Dimuantes, captures rehearsal footage, the band’s first live shows, and images of the historic Emma Colliery pit wheel in Tyneside.