CHEEKS (Cheeks)

Greg Aramini
7 days ago
3 min read

Released: 2025

Genre: Post-punk

Sounds Like: Fugazi, Girls Against Boys, Rival Schools

Homeland: North Carolina

What makes Cheeks elite and sit atop OHMs Peak?

Cheeks brings a refreshing vibe to the punk rock scene. Their fusion of punk and math rock evokes a nostalgic 90s atmosphere. Occasionally, a touch of psychedelic heaviness emerges; take a listen to the track Dream Boat.
The vocals have an ideal tone for this music style. Neither overpowering nor underwhelming, they have a homegrown feel.
The production is excellent and not overly polished; we believe it would translate perfectly on tour.

Track Listing:

Sound Of The Devil 4:33
transmission interrupted 3:36
Danger Squeeze 4:21
Dream Boat 4:26
Butchery Summer 5:12
hi list 2 die list 3:21
Flap Jackets 5:04

Dive deeper into Cheeks with our Q&A with the CHEEKS.

OHMs Peak: Your sound is mature beyond years with a myriad of rock, post-punk, noise rock, and hardcore. Tell us how you formed and provide us some background on your previous endeavors.

CHEEKS: Our sound is 5 people living in a pre-dystopian society, moving through the crushing pressures of our lives mixed with drugs. We all feel that our lives and previous endeavors have been leading up to our present-day band. Fate formed us.

OHMs Peak: All 7 tracks resonate and only get better with each listen. The closer, ‘Flap Jackets,’ is a whirlwind of great contrast. How did the darker track come about, and what is the track about?

CHEEKS: Lyrically, I would say the song is a day in the life of my brain. One foot in front of the other, trying not to blow it, that sort of thing. And of course the fact that we're all here together doing just that, simultaneously, but ultimately in this one brain and body of ours. All by ourselves yet surrounded by one another, just floating out in space. It all spins on the head of a pin. That said, if someone connects to it and finds some meaning in it for themselves, then all the better.

Musically, I believe Alex came in with a great idea, and everyone else expanded upon it and dusted it with their unique and personal majick, and wala! A new Cheeks song was ushered into the world.

OHMs Peak: How did the band name ‘Cheeks’ come about, and what does it signify?

Our record release was definitely the most memorable performance to date. We played at Fleetwood’s Rocknroll Chapel in Asheville, NC. Among other things, it was special because it signified the end of an era with the 5 of us and the birth of a new chapter for CHEEKS. Cheeks was made up randomly one night lol. Spread the word!!

OHMs Peak: What bands most influenced your sound, and which band NOT in your genre would you want to play live with that would most complement your sound?

CHEEKS: Some of the bands' influences would be Jesus Lizard, Drive Like Jehu, and the Cramps. Playing with someone like Brian Jones Massacre would be cool.

OHMs Peak: Cheeks is stranded on an island with only a solar-powered turntable and majestically powered solar Bluetooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album do you agree to?

CHEEKS: We agreed that if we had to choose one record, it would be the first Stooges album.

CHEEKS are:

Alex, Tony, Cheryl, Luke, and Chadwick

Follow CHEEKS: Instagram