Punk trio MakeWar hit The Netherlands this month for exclusive festival show
Wed 09 Jul 2025MakeWar is a Brooklyn-based punk trio known for turning raw emotion into cathartic, high-intensity music. Formed by José Prieto from the remnants of his solo project Sad And French, the band—rounded out by bassist Edwin Santacruz and new drummer Alejandro Serritiello—has evolved from writing about heartbreak and self-destruction to exploring healing and personal growth.
Their latest album, A Paradoxical Theory of Change, marks a shift: written during the pandemic and shaped by Prieto’s experience in actual therapy, the record embraces acceptance over resistance. “Instead of fighting what you’re feeling, you have to let it be,” Prieto says. Tracks like “Magic Worlds,” “Underachiever,” and “P.A.N.” dig deep into anxiety, identity, and chronic illness, while still channeling the band’s signature urgency and melodic grit.
Written mostly in isolation and recorded over an intense two weeks at Sonic Ranch in Texas, the album balances introspective lyrics with MakeWar’s trademark punk fire. It’s deeply personal yet universally resonant—a powerful snapshot of a band learning to live, grow, and still rage.
This month the band is over in The Netherlands for one festival show: