Lost Legion from Chicago are, for me, one of the most essential contemporary bands around. This is their 7″, featuring four songs. The material on this EP was recorded earlier and was originally supposed to be released in 2022. According to what I was able to find, the release was initially meant to be handled by Rock’n’Roll Disgrace. After that fell through, Cercle Social Records attempted to put the record out, but for some reason that didn’t work out either. In the end, the vinyl finally saw the light of day in 2025 thanks to Under The Gun Records. The pressing is limited to 100 copies on bronze-colored vinyl.

As soon as I found out about it, I impatiently waited for my chance to get hold of this piece, which I eventually managed to do. Both the sleeve and the center label feature Cercle Social Records insignia, giving me a strong impression that this is some kind of „rescued“ press pulled from the archives. This feeling is further confirmed by the text on the sticker attached to the EP.

The opening track Hanging Downtown is more in the vein of Oi! punk with a darker sound. It’s a cover of a song by the punk rock / indie band The Repacents from their 1981 album. Compared to the original, however, Lost Legion have significantly toughened it up and dressed it in a much darker cloak. The same applies to Nuclear Contract, from whose chorus lyrics the EP takes its title. This track is very typical of the band’s sound, especially in its urgent and pressing delivery. The first two songs are short punk rippers, both clocking in under two minutes.

On the B-side we find Dancing Alone On a Monday Night. The lead guitar and vocal work remind me of War Machine from the album Behind The Concrete Veil, also because this is once again a clear hit—this time with a three-minute runtime. The closing track, Do My Circuits Make You Nervous?, is the biggest hit on the entire EP and at the same time one of the best songs in the band’s catalog to date. Garage rock influences come through much more strongly here, resulting in an absolutely gripping two-minute banger.

On this EP, Lost Legion deliver a powerful mix of Oi!, punk, garage rock, and subtle hardcore influences. Lyrically, the band explores various forms of misery—the songs are fairly dark and deal with the bleakness of life in a big city. They range from drinking and wandering the streets, through anger toward authority, all the way to images of nuclear destruction. At the same time, these are exactly the kind of lyrics that leave room for the listener’s own imagination. I appreciate that, just as I appreciate the fact that all the lyrics are included with the EP. The final song also touches on the dangers of dating robots, so having some awareness of this topic might come in handy one day.

Short runtimes and a lo-fi sound give the record a great, dirty feel and personally make me want to play this EP over and over again. I’ve mentioned the song lengths mainly to make it clear just how purely punk Lost Legion’s approach is, and what you can expect from this record. Lost Legion rule, and this EP is another strong entry in their discography. I’m damn glad it didn’t end up forgotten on a warehouse shelf somewhere.

TOP TRACKS: Do My Circuits Make You Nervous?, Dancing Alone On a Monday Night