Applied Knowledge

About Applied Knowledge

Applied Knowledge crafts songs like hardboiled fiction—sharp, moody, and full of perspective. Blending post-punk tension, noir-drenched lyricism, and raw alternative energy, they build stories through sound—melodic when you least expect it, jagged when it counts.

Fronted by Peter Cortner (ex-Dag Nasty) and driven by bassist-songwriter Sam Pinola, the band’s songs unfold like dark city streets lit by flickering neon—full of shadow, movement, and an undercurrent of unease. Guitars from Scotty Why and Joe C. shift between shimmering atmosphere and jagged edges, while Jay’s drumming hits with the precision and intensity.

Their forthcoming debut album, Half of Everything Else (produced by J. Robbins at Magpie Cage Studios) is a study in tension and release, melody and grit, light and dark. The songs sit at the intersection of post-punk urgency, ‘80s alternative moodiness, and the kind of storytelling that leaves a mark.

Recommended if you like:
Fugazi
Shellac
Protomartyr
Wire
Hot Snakes
Killing Joke