Welcome to a feature where we sit down and talk to bands and artists about their latest albums to find out all about it. Today we speak to the band Take It Or Leave It about the album Tunnel Vision.

Hello nice to meet you, tell us about yourself!

We’re Take It Or Leave It, a punk band from Rockland County, New York. Loud, energetic, and emotionally honest. We blend catchy hooks with raw punk and play high-energy shows that mix originals and “punkified” covers. People have started calling us Pasta Rock because TIOLI sounds like ravioli, and honestly, we love it.

Tell us about the new album

Our debut EP Tunnel Vision features five original tracks and one cover, a punk version of the 90s classic bu Gin Blossoms “Hey Jealousy.” We tracked everything ourselves in our home setup, working out of Craig’s basement with Mario’s gear. Once the recording was wrapped, we sent it to Anthony at Small Room Studio to give it that final professional polish.

Favourite track in new album and why?

We go back and forth, but “Some Things Never Change” is the one we keep coming back to. It hits hard lyrically given the political climate, and the intro always kicks us into gear. If we weren’t locked in before it started, that opening gets us back on track every time.

Tell us a bit about the recording process, was it fun to do?

We recorded everything ourselves at home, which gave us the freedom to really dig into the details without watching the clock. That flexibility let us experiment with fills, change up parts, and finesse the performances until it felt right. It was fun, but also draining. Recording is a repetitive process, and it takes a lot of energy to keep chasing the perfect take. Once we had all the pieces, we sent them to Anthony at Small Room Studio. He’s worked with Mario before, so we knew his input would help bring the tracks to life.

What inspired the album name?

Tunnel Vision came from our shift in mindset. At the start, we were trying to do everything all at once and it just wasn’t clicking. Once we learned to slow down and focus, things started falling into place. The name represents that clarity. It was a reminder to block out the noise and give our full attention to each piece.

Tell us the idea behind the album cover?

We wanted the cover to literally represent tunnel vision, but do it with some style. We used a PVC pipe wrapped in uneven duct tape to create the lighting effect, then had Craig’s son look through it directly into the camera. The colors, shadows, and framing created this warped perspective. A little Photoshop work tied it together, and it became something visually bold that matched the theme.

What one of your songs on the new album do you think will be the most difficult to rehearse for a live audience?

We design our songs to work live first and foremost but Cracked Ribs was definitely the one we had to rehearse the most. The cutouts, the off-beat patterns, the dynamics, it all had to be tight. We wanted that track to punch live the same way it does on the record, and getting there took some serious focus.

Why should people listen to the album?

We’re aiming to capture that modern nostalgia feel. There are sounds and moments that might remind you of something familiar, but they’re done in a way that feels new. Like our cover of “Hey Jealousy,” we didn’t just remake it, we punked it out and gave it new life. That’s the kind of balance we’re after across the whole EP.

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