There’s something refreshing about a punk rock record that doesn’t feel the need to smash your face with distortion to make its point. That’s pretty much where Padova, Italy’s According To Jack land with their new EP, PLUGGED (Suburban Sessions), released on August 21.
The band originally started in 2022 by Giacomo Rampazzo as an acoustic solo project, According To Jack slowly grew into a four-piece band. Their second EP feels like a natural step forward from those beginnings, bringing together clean, well-defined guitars, solid melodies and a noticeable California punk rock influence without turning everything up to eleven.
PLUGGED features four tracks, and the band keeps things tight throughout. The guitars have plenty of character and drive, but they never rely on massive distortion or unnecessary aggression. There’s a melodic quality running through the whole thing, while Giacomo’s vocals occasionally carry that familiar Green Day-ish edge — especially in the way the melodies are delivered.
But the real strength here is how well put together the songs are. Everything sounds carefully played and produced without losing that DIY spirit. The EP is self-produced, and you can hear that the band knows exactly what kind of sound they want. It’s polished enough to sound professional, but it still feels like a band playing songs rather than a studio project trying too hard to sound perfect.
Lyrically, According To Jack lean into fairly personal territory. Reason To Exist deals with that uncomfortable feeling of being stuck, questioning where your life is going and desperately looking for some kind of purpose. Lines about not knowing what’s missing and simply wanting “a reason to exist” give the song a relatable, almost painfully honest quality.
Then there’s Carry The Burden, which takes a more supportive and collective approach. Its message is about standing together when things get rough, recognizing that everyone carries their own weight and helping each other through it. It’s not complicated, but that’s part of its charm. The song feels like the kind of thing that works because you’ve probably been there yourself.
For a band that started as an acoustic solo project only a few years ago, the progression into a four-piece is pretty convincing. There’s still room for According To Jack to push things further, but this EP shows a band that has found its footing and knows where it wants to go.
Is available on CD HERE and digitally across all major streaming platforms.
According To Jack members:
Guitar and vocals: Giacomo Rampazzo
Guitar and harmonies: Giacomo Facco
Bass and harmonies: Andrea Stoppato
Drums: Alessandro Pigoni
According To Jack social media:
Punk Rock Mag 
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