Track By Tracks: Take It Or Leave It - Tunnel Vision (2024)

Tunnel Vision is the debut EP from Take It Or Leave It, a punk band out of Rockland County, New York, released in November 2024. Built in basements and fine-tuned onstage, the six-track release is a raw and honest snapshot of the band’s sound and identity. With themes ranging from emotional burnout to political frustration, the songs pack a punch without losing their melodic edge. From the high-octane opener “Run” to the amped-up reimagining of “Hey Jealousy,” the EP delivers modern punk energy with a strong dose of nostalgia. Whether you’re screaming along to gang vocals, raising a glass at last call, or just finding comfort in the chaos, Tunnel Vision gives you something to hold on to.

Track By Track: Tunnel Vision

1. Run:

Our opening track, “Run,” came from a writing session that had us asking: how do other bands write their singles? So with our old guitarist, we listened to a bunch of hit songs from all kinds of bands. That eventually led us to the rhythm riff that opens the track, melodic but not quite a lead. We liked how some bands, like Blink-182 in “The Rock Show,” reused a riff in the verse, so we built around that idea, creating a kind of call and response between vocals and guitar. Craig really latched onto the idea that the vocals felt like a wild beast stalking its prey. The energy in the verses had this predatory tension, and the breakdown became the moment where the prey loses its advantage. We wanted the whole track to move on instinct, not overly structured, just naturally flowing from one section to the next. That all builds into a huge outro where the chorus gets belted out over a looped hook.

The first line, “Like a deer in headlights when you first face me,” actually sparked the idea for the EP title Tunnel Vision. That moment of being frozen in place but needing to keep moving forward became the metaphor for the whole record.

2. Pints and Power Chords:

Internally, this one’s always been our drinking song. It was even called “Drinking Song” until late in the process. At our shows, it’s always the closer, and by the time we hit the final chorus, everyone’s singing with us.

Craig brought Pints and Power Chords to us in the month of our first gig, and by the end of that practice, we had the whole thing done. The goal was to make something that felt inviting. Even if someone’s not a punk fan, the catchy melody and simple structure always pull people in. Think Dropkick Murphys meets The Offspring, Irish pub energy with a punk backbone.

One of the most fun elements is the surprise ska section in the third verse, full of gang vocals and rhythms to bounce and dance. It gives the track variety without losing its celebratory feel. And of course, we toss in a key change at the end. It’s like grabbing one more beer at last call before the lights come on. Whether you drink or not, it’s a unifying song that gets everybody on the same page.

3. Some Things Never Change:

We don’t define ourselves as a political band, but this one brings the heat. Some Things Never Change kicks off with an epic intro before diving into a riff that’s been stuck in our heads since the day it was written.

Lyrically, it’s about Donald Trump and the rise of fascism in the U.S., though his name is never said outright. The MAGA references are clear (we scream “Sheep” in the second verse), but more than anything, the lyrics are for people we’ve lost to misinformation and division, people we used to know who now just parrot talking points they saw on Fox and Friends.

The chorus opens with “It’s hard to talk when you’re so close-minded,” which really says it all.

This song came from a lead riff Mario wrote years ago and brought into the band once we had the right sound for it. The breakdown is heavy, not like a chase this time, but a release of built-up anger. When we recorded it, we tried to capture the same energy we bring to it live, especially in the accents and phrasing.

4. Jenna:

With a four-count on the hi-hat, “Jenna” slams in at full speed. Another one that Mario brought in early, and it already had the name, no real Jenna behind it, but we all know the type. Craig liked that it was a made-up person and instantly gravitated towards defining “her.”

Everyone threw in wild breakup stories, and it all bled into the lyrics. The chorus ends on “starting over again,” and we loved how abrupt and final that felt. The harmonies in the chorus were also one of the first things we had Devon record vocals for when he joined the band, and they’ve stayed a core part of the track ever since.

One of our favorite moments is the transition section after each chorus; it’s unlike any of our usual accent points. We also added it to the intro riff, but with a slight tweak in the order of operations, giving it a familiar feeling later when you hear it again.

This is usually the opener in our sets, two minutes of pure punk energy. The outro gang vocals are a blast, and the call-and-answer format makes it a crowd favorite. Whether it’s a partner, a friend, or a family member, most people can relate to needing to cut someone out and hit reset.

5. Cracked Ribs:

This one started with a riff Craig recorded when in between projects, and the rest of us built around it. Fun fact: the name comes from our first drummer, who once ghosted the group chat after being bear-hugged so tightly he cracked some ribs. He never played with us again, but it gave us a song title and opened the door for Devon to join the band.

Cracked Ribs is the darkest, most emo track on the EP, full of betrayal, late-night spirals, and post-friendship fallout. It’s about the time and energy you lose when someone lets you down, and how that frustration can eat at you.

But the second verse starts the shift: “Now that you’ve seen your disaster / Apprentice beat by his master.” It’s a reclaiming moment. We came out on top, and the person who bailed missed out. The track is heavy, emotional, and a little spiteful, and we love it for that.

6. Hey Jealousy (Cover):

We’re not a cover band, but we couldn’t resist putting our spin on this Gin Blossoms classic. We cranked up the tempo, added distortion, and turned it into a pop-punk banger.

From the opening bass lick to the a cappella sing-along after the solo, we kept the spirit of the original but added our own fingerprints. Touring musicians have even asked for our version to borrow ideas for their own sets. This was one of those lightbulb moments that we knew we were on to something big.

We stayed true to the emotional weight of the original, but gave it new life with big pauses, power chords, and just enough grit to make it ours. It closes out the EP on a high note, a familiar song reimagined with our energy and our voice.