Enjoy the freedom and release that comes from yell singing into the holler. The manic corners of punk riff exploration that still let in some beams of light through the 2 by fours over the windows of an abandoned gas station squat in West Virginia :)

“Sickpay’s broad love of the genre (punk rock) is on full display on his recently released EP Pureocracy. In only 5 songs, Birnbaum takes us on a punk rock journey that shows a diverse love for the genre at large with hints of cow-punk, modern pop-punk, classic alternative, new wave, and more. It’s early in the year yet, but so far this album and the new release from Denzel Curry are neck and neck for best release of 2022.”
--The Farsighted

"...The hooks here are huge, and the songs are like arena anthems from an alternate dimension. One of the many projects conceived during the pandemic, this music is not content to wallow in its origins and defiantly escapes from apocalyptic doomsaying."
--The Big Takeover

"Like Paul Westerberg, Birnbaum has an understated, deceptive knack for pop, and if one were to remove all of the lo-fi and sludge, any of these songs could be hits. Yet Pureocracy thrives and succeeds because of its production, and although modest, it’s a definite contender for one of the year’s strongest debuts."
--- The Big Takeover

“The best part of Devoid (from Pureocracy) is during the verses, when Sickpay hits you with some sort of guitar that doesn’t necessarily sound so much electric as it does full of effects so that it pirouettes, twirls, and sparkles along like a diadem twisting in the sun’s gaze. The singing is certainly unique on this one, although the instrumentation is the real treat.”
-- Breaking & Entering

“Simultaneously muscular and enflamed by grimy, grainy guitars, Pureocracy pumps out brutal textures of punk-laced rock.”
--Tattoo.com

“So what kind of punk is Sickpay bringing along on this EP? Well, you can actually call it sophisticated pop-punk, as Birnbaum shows that knowing how to really play your instrument well and coming up with more complex melodies actually helps the sound, rather than distracting from it.”
--- Rock at Night

“For anyone who came of age in the Grunge/Post-Grunge era of music, (Pureocracy) is just what the doctor ordered to give you the throwback hit you crave that’s missing from modern artists.”
--Screen Legion

“Certainly, it’s no secret that Mike Birnbaum puts all his influences on display on this record. And running the gamut from Grunge to Punk in only five tracks is quite the impressive feat. Because of this, Pureocracy is a concentrated, condensed listening experience in the best way possible – in that it packs quite the punch in a short span of time. Moreover, whether or not this style of music is in your sonic wheelhouse, Sickpay is most definitely worth a listen.
--- Screen Legion

“Sickpay’s Pureocracy EP is five tracks inspired heavily by the 90’s and 00’s. In other words, it’s an all-around cool EP. Featuring loud guitars, thunderous drumming, and deep-thinking lyrics, what you get out of it is exciting sounds from beginning to end."
--Movieboozer.com