Punk rocker Peter Field is no stranger to the scene, having contributed as a member of bands like Senseless and Ambassadors of Shalom. But for the past five years, he’s instead focused on his three-piece act, Peter118. With a couple of EPs to the band’s name thus far, Peter118 is starting off 2019 with a brand new single called “Waiting.” The band’s previous release, a split EP with No Lost Cause, displayed their predilection for UK punk rock (with a dash of pop punk, of course), which makes “Waiting” an interesting listen, as it takes a different approach. It’s not a bad approach at all, but the song sounds a bit more like Nirvana this time around, albeit with much cleaner production. Vocally, it’s a different story, as Field’s voice is a tried and true punk rock voice, with a vocal effect that’s straight out of a 90s alternative rock track. That is to say, one would never confuse Field’s voice with the late Kurt Cobain. While the overall sound of “Waiting” is sure to please fans of punk rock, it’s not without its flaws. One characteristic of punk rock is minimalism, either in track length, lyricism, or both. “Waiting” repeats the same lines quite a few times, which is fine in itself, but the message of the song doesn’t come across very clearly, which takes away from the importance of the repetition. The chorus also feels like it falls a little flat when the guitar riffs and the verses are so promising. “Waiting” definitely isn’t a bad song, though. And as our industry becomes more and more singles-focused, I keep finding that singles sometimes make more sense in the context of the album. With that being said, it’s a solid single, but I’d particularly be interested to hear how “Waiting” works in that context, if Peter118 has a new album or EP coming soon.

- Review date: 3/17/19, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com