Formed in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood, home to acts like the SCREAMERS and the FLESH EATERS, the band known as OPUS changed their name on New Year’s Eve 1979. Adopting a snappy new moniker to better suit their punchy sound, they forged a sonic imprint that bridged the gap between the DEAD KENNEDYS and […]
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The nerve of these Canucks! After their last record drew considerable ire from the venerable Sir Bobos, you’d think they’d have the decency to hang it up and leave this whole punk rock business to the professionals. But no, here’s two fresh piles of sub-par slop they’re serving up for us to choke down! I’m […]
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Dance music for a collapsing civilization. L.O.T.I.O.N. returns to the mainframe with eleven transmissions of cyberpunk-soaked punk mixed with glimpses of gabber, industrial techno, and digital hardcore. The riffs are punishing, the rhythms are relentless, and Ben Greenberg’s production keeps the machine sounding hostile. Imagine G.I.S.M. trapped in a neon dystopia, playing songs by DOPPLEREFFEKT […]
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Two servings of fast and loose West Coast hardcore punk on ANIMATED VIOLENCE and TOTAL VACATION’s split LP. Both bands draw from a similar well of influences; each plays snotty, ’80s-inspired USHC, but with enough variation in style between the two to merit sharing twelve inches of wax. First up is ANIMATED VIOLENCE, and it […]
Read full "split LP" reviewErika Elizabeth calls the shots again on this week’s episode of MRR Radio.
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While working on the Murray Bowles photo book, I found myself in an early ’80s Bay Area punk frenzy, gobbling up old photo books, zines, and newsprint rags of the day, and digging into internet rabbit holes left and right. Along the way I came across this gem, self-published in 2021, which I immediately needed […]
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Far from any major cities and never a convenient spot on a touring route, the seemingly sedate neighbouring seaside towns of Falmouth and Penryn are an unlikely setting for a growing punk scene. However, over a long period of time, a local punk community has thankfully become a regular presence here. Cover photo: Dee Loraine […]
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Alrighty, here it is—the fourth and final installment of our YETTs. Here are parts one, two, and three, if you missed those. Also, be sure to scroll all the way down to see our Top Ten 2025 YETTs! D. Gregory D. Gregory has been a reviewer for Maximum Rocknroll since 2024. He has been culturally […]
Read full "2025 Year End Top Tens, Part Four" Year-End Top Ten
And now, part three of the 2025 Year-End Top Tens! Here are parts one and two, if you missed those. The fourth and final part will be posted next week. Ben Marshall Ben Marshall is a rocker and a reviewer for MRR. A herbert with a heart of gold, a short-haired rock’n’roller, and part-time lager (top) lout. I […]
Read full "2025 Year End Top Tens, Part Three" Year-End Top Ten