Reviews

For review and radio play consideration:

Please send one copy of vinyl (preferred), CD, or cassette releases to MRR, PO Box 3852, Oakland, CA 94609, USA.

Maximum Rocknroll wants to review everything that comes out in the world of underground punk rock, hardcore, garage, post-punk, thrash, etc. No major labels or labels exclusively distributed by major-owned distributors, no reviews of test pressings or promo CDs without final artwork. We reserve the right to reject releases on the basis of content. Music without vocals or drums will not be considered. All music submitted for review must have been released (or reissued) within the last two years. Please include contact information and let us know where your band is from!

Automatic Lovers Automatic Lovers LP

AUTOMATIC LOVERS deliver a juicy blend of attitude and energy that’s become increasingly absent from speakers in recent decades. These spunky Spaniards achieve their searing and stripped-down sound the same way ’90s trash rockers like the HUMPERS and the DEVIL DOGS did—by setting their sights on ’70s punk’n’roll in the vein of the VIBRATORS and the HEARTBREAKERS. Pure, authentic, and sweat-soaked fun ensues. But even with its two choice cover songs hammering home the band’s motivation, this debut album is not merely a procession of typical, however well done, rock stereotypes. Garage turkeys are sure to recognize some of these riffs, but not all of ‘em. At least not immediately. Well-crafted tunes like “WGTEYEO” and “Twist and Die” move the group’s inspiration into cool new places, continuing the tradition instead of just dressing up in it. Factor in the traces of Scene Killer-era CARBONAS and what are probably the most blazing guitar solos we’ve heard in 2026, and you’ve got a smoking hot recipe for success. It’s an automatic thumbs-up over here.

Birth (Defects) Fictional Days LP

Hell yeah—nice and sludgy, noisy as hell, and chorus pedals completely maxed out. Is it passé to make Spinal Tap references in the year of our lord 2026? Because if not, these guys bring it all the way up to eleven. This needs to be listened to as loud as possible. My one and only complaint: the vocals do not match the energy of the music. Now, I’m not naive enough to think that this wasn’t done intentionally, but when your band is playing music equivalent to the MELVINS on mescaline, I think it does it all a great disservice when your vocalist sounds like a mopier version of BECK. There are a couple tracks where the singer comes a bit more out of the pocket, like on the song “Scapegoat,” sounding a bit more like a poppier LARRY LIFELESS than your standard ’90s rock radio idol. Speaking of which, there are a handful of covers on this slab from bands like NIRVANA and SONIC YOUTH. Fun album if you like the heavier stuff. Worth a spin.

Censer Censer demo cassette

This is ferocious, this is from Cleveland, and this is hard-as-nails powerviolence. Released on the prolific hardcore label Delayed Gratification, this is the first demo tape from CENSER, who are certainly not here to spread joy and happiness to the punters. I am sure the members of the band are experienced and have been doing the same thing for some years, as the music is perfectly executed and excellently ticks all the powerviolence boxes you’d expect of a top band, from the heavy moshing moments to the blasting madness. I am not the biggest fan (or indeed connoisseur) of the genre and I wouldn’t personally pick up the tape, but this is brilliantly done and I can imagine the fans of this peculiar subgenre that has survived a couple of decades now going crazy for CENSER.

Dismiss Lost Transmissions: 1995–1996 LP

Now it all makes sense! I always wondered why/how No Idea Records was so tight with PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS, and now that I’m hearing this pre-PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS band, I get it. This falls perfectly in line with MOVING TARGETS, DOUGHBOYS, SERPICO, SLEEPER, etc. This DISMISS demo is hard-driving and melodic, and the songs  are tinged with enough aggression that were this to have come out in 1995 or 1996 as a full-length rather than as a demo cassette, well, who knows. We would not have had PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS, but we would have had one hundred more DISMISS tunes. Look, I need to be clear that I’m not a nostalgic dope looking back on yesteryear with fogged-over memories. I like this because of attentive song structures and raw-nerve quality, perhaps in part due to the poorer recording. Nonetheless, I feel it’s rare these days to hear something as impassioned as these DISMISS demo songs from thirty years ago. It looks as though physical qualities are limited and will plop in your box on a random vinyl color. If I said anything that taps your interest, then you should check this out and go start a band.

Dog Hex Dog Hex cassette

Billed as a fusion of egg-punk and dungeon synth, there is absolutely no information about DOG HEX that I can find other than the fact that this was recorded “in a hot room.” While I am not a dungeon synth expert, as a punk with a solo synth project that occasionally gets lumped into the dungeon synth genre, I have listened to enough to understand the basic idea. It seems like a lot of people think that the use of any cheap keyboard automatically qualifies your music as dungeon synth—which brings us to DOG HEX. This debut seven-song cassette features mostly spastic, aggressive egg-punk, but does have a few instrumental synth tracks, hence their attempt to claim both genres. It is my understanding that dungeon synth is fundamentally an atmospheric genre, with long compositions built around the slow cultivation of mood. With the longest song on this cassette being under a minute, it’s difficult to imagine what atmosphere can truly be built within such a timeframe. Looking at DOG HEX’s instrumental tracks through the lens of building an immersive world through their soundscapes, these songs essentially amount to a quest to the fridge. This cassette is actually pretty ripping, with “Mantra” being the standout track, blistering through verse/chorus repetition enough to get stuck in your head even at only 45 seconds in length. The band’s self-posed question of “What do you call a mix between egg-punk and dungeon synth?” feels like the build-up to an incredibly niche one-liner. I suppose I would say that “dungeon synth as played by ADHD-riddled egg-punkers” works as a description for DOG HEX. Personally, I would view things a little differently. This omelette of darkness seems more like the mashup between egg-punk and mysterious guy hardcore, as there is no information to find whatsoever on the project, its members, or anything else. The eggs are undeniable, the dungeon is still under construction.

Exclaim Fusillade LP

During the mid-’80s, EXCLAIM was creating punk based on the work of DISCHARGE, CRUCIFIX, and CRASS in Akita, Japan, far from the hotbeds of Tokyo and Osaka, which is also why their Fusillade LP is just now creeping out into the light of day. EXCLAIM captures the classic aggro punk aesthetic of fellow countrymen G.I.S.M., but also occasionally hits a noisy garage sound à la TEENGENERATE, and there are even noise moments that immediately recall early MELT BANANA. In all, Fusillade is an engaging and enjoyable trip, and if you’re into Japanese punk, this is a must-have.

Fentanyl Fentanyl LP

Bay Area degenerates FENTANYL double down on everything that made the first LP so addictive, but the songwriting’s tighter and the weirdness cuts even deeper. Eight tracks of off-kilter hardcore that mashes together the weirdness of UNITED MUTATION, NO TREND, DIE KREUZEN, and SIEGE, with flashes of modern freakiness like SPY and GAG. The guitar lurches instead of chugging as every song throws in some left turn before it overstays its welcome, and the whole thing feels wired and paranoid. At barely twelve minutes, it never wastes a second. Twisted hardcore punk that is actively trying to make everyone in the room uncomfortable, exactly as it should.

Fourteen Hokus Pokus Vapor 22 EP

Sarah, Erica, Ruby, and Coach are FOURTEEN, and their Hokus Pokus Vapor 22 EP is eight songs of pure pop punk, the very best of the no-frills kind. If I had to put this onto a mixtape, I’d also include bands like SWEET BABY, BRENTS T.V., VANBULDERASS, POOPIEHEAD, WHEN PUBERTY STRIKES, SEWER TROUT, KAMALA AND THE KARNIVORES, and so on. Lyrics taking on big topics in some tunes, while others distill had-to-be-there inside jokes that probs only the band and close friends are tuned into. I’m stoked on this record. In my brain, I imagine that these four friends went into a secret studio inside a cargo van that’s been abandoned inside a parking garage, and for fifteen minutes, wrote and recorded these eight songs, then left and never talked about it again. And now we have this little regional important thing, like a dumb little town that has a special stone named after it to always remember that something great is always somewhere.

Galanti Nášivky Františka Malečka LP

A discerning listen will leave you with more questions than conclusions here, but GALANTI is nothing if not compelling—a churning juggernaut of complex Eastern European hardcore infected with metalcore chugs and the kind of genre-bending diversions that make me think of the kids who got into heavy hardcore through SOAD (as opposed to SOA or SOD, if you know what I mean). Think about when Prank released that PESD album twenty years ago and it mostly flew under the radar, but the people who really listened to it got turned on their damn heads. Or the last PAINTBOX record (to continue the Prank theme)…this sounds like neither, but it defies convention in the same way. Nášivky Františka Malečka will require repeated listens to fully appreciate it and I’m not actually sure if I’m going to end up liking it, but that’s not the point. GALANTI is interesting, and they’re making me listen.

Intensified Chaos That’s Not Freedom 1982 LP

Arisen from the punkest of graves, this recently rediscovered artifact of early ’80s hardcore is a serious trip. The story of INTENSIFIED CHAOS traces all the back to the inaugural issue of this here institution, Maximum Rocknroll #1, which was packaged in with the Alternative Tentacles compilation Not So Quiet on the Western Front. Most of y’all familiar with this band will recognize them from having contributed the opening track of said comp, with their eponymously titled ripper “Intensified Chaos.” As the story goes, the group’s demo evaporated into the ether, lost to the spikes and studs of time all the way up until, well, now. So, here in all its glory is the official document of Orinda, California’s INTENSIFIED CHAOS, represented by the six songs from the original demo and nine live tracks to round things out. The obvious burning question is, of course, if this is worth its weight in wax, and I’m happy to dutifully report that it fucking rips! The influence of GBH is quite apparent, but geography fleshes out the context, calling forth the energy and savagery of CRUCIFIX and BLACK FLAG. I’ll dock them a point for the contrived British snarl, but that’s because I fucking hate John Lydon, and the guys probably didn’t. All said, this is an intriguing piece of punk history, and it holds up just fine 40-whatever years later.

Kaosquad Absolute Imbalance LP

KAOSQUAD out of Czechia returns with a full-length entitled Absolute Imbalance, and if you’re in the mood for grindcore, this is for you. Elements of stenchcore, death and black metal, and D-beat are embedded in the KAOSQUAD sound, as chugging riffs transfigure into searing runs, and vocals range from classic pig snort to banshee-on-the-moors to deliver brutal verbal attacks. Thick, primal rhythms undergird the whole ensemble and present in powerful, stompy beats and lightning-fast blasts. For many, Absolute Imbalance may lean too much towards the metallic side, but KAOSQUAD maintains the punk with social criticisms and absolute D-beat barnburners like “Shellshock.” If you’re looking to get your hackles raised and add a little stomp to your walk, then Absolute Imbalance is the way.

La Gachette Une Vie à Défendre LP

First of all, shoutout to any band still making tunes after over two-and-a-half decades. Whether you like the music or not, it’s objectively impressive to keep at it that long. Oi! from Montreal has a storied history, with countless bands having contributed to the sound and the scene. Now for the actual sounds here—I must say I wasn’t feeling great when this thing started. The slick production and the vocals being right at the front was almost a little jarring. By the second track, I got my sea legs and allowed myself to settle in and take in what was happening. By the fourth track or so, I was over it. Speaking of the sea, this thing just feels a bit too shambling for my taste, almost like it was indeed meant for pirates? Oi! Oi! Captain!

Muffin Get Baked 12″

There’s definitely a punk’n’roll and grunge feel to this six-song record. There’s a sultry quality that can only be felt after last call and in the sticky and stinky breath of bars. I have the distinct feeling that MUFFIN woulda been on top of the college radio charts along with L7, MUDHONEY, HOLE, etc., in all the best ways. Heavy discount bass, and drums that hold back and then plop in to punctuate Madame Muffin’s vocals when needed. Lyrically, they walk the line of wit and sarcasm while maybe leaving you wondering if you might get stabbed for not reading the room correctly. Also, MUFFIN ends this with a pretty great cover of a secret band and song that you’ve probs not thought about since the early ’00s.

Nazi Tampons Moon Invasion cassette

Just beyond the bizarre branding, you’ll find a raging garage sound and ’77 spirit delivered with a juvenile wink from Slovakia’s NAZI TAMPONS. The fi is lo, seating these rocking songs comfortably within a thick nest of noise to complement their style. This should appeal to fans of the DISCO LEPERS and the ZODIAC KILLERS who don’t mind a bit of dirt mixed into the merriment. It’s a bloody good time.

Pig Rides Rides Again, Again EP

If you’re into hardcore punk and hear the word “pig,” two things typically come to mind: the cops, and POISON IDEA’s legendary guitar player. Cleveland’s PIG RIDES acknowledge both on Rides Again, Again, an ode to the illustrious guitar hero and hating the fuzz. Full of fury and snot, PIG RIDES rage through five hectic tracks that aren’t the most dynamic songs I’ve ever heard, but they do feature some cool guitar work and tons of energy to spare. If you like CHAIN WHIP, this will be right up your alley.

Roberta Lips Coup de Bluff / Como Tu 7″

Another all-female four-piece, this time from Paris. Super catchy pop music, with the A-side zipping along and the B-side more measured. It’s also interesting to me that one cut is in French and the other in Spanish. There’s a definite garage feel going on here. You’re just teasing me with two cuts. I want more!

The Stress Balls Wildcat Sessions EP

There’s something nostalgic going on here, and I don’t think that’s the intention. The STRESS BALLS play straight-up old school punk. It’s lo-fi, no-frills, and it scratches the itch. They aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but give you what they’ve got and have a lot of fun doing so! They remind me a lot of Chicago punkers PURE INTENTION, both in delivery and attitude. “2026” is my favorite track here, just dumb punk fun. It reminds me of a vanilla ice cream cone that you’re going to have 60 times this summer. Simple, fun, and classic. Could it be improved? Sure. Does it need to be? Fuck no.

Stupid Plots Should and Want EP

Rough, shambling guitar riffs, clunky primitive drums, and spitting raw vocals with the minimalist heart-on-sleeve honesty that you’d get from RIVETHEAD and GOD EQUALS GENOCIDE. This EP has the excited spirit and energy that you’d expect from a band’s debut release, but this Fukui, Japan-based band has been releasing records since the mid-’90s, which is inspirational in and of itself.

Toxic Menace By Any Means Necessary CD

Sometimes all you need is ten minutes of ripping, thrashy hardcore played with conviction, and By Any Means Necessary gets in, wrecks the place, and gets out. Texas’ TOXIC MENACE comes out swinging with four tracks of filthy, crossover-leaning hardcore that owes as much to CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, CRUMBSUCKERS, and D.R.I. as it does to UK82. Fast parts crash into chunky mosh riffs without getting bogged down, and the whole thing has that loose, beer-soaked energy that makes you want to dive head first into a crowd. Touches on violence, urban decay, and general societal collapse without pretending to reinvent the wheel.

The Vors Boss LP

I’m not sure I can accurately describe how much I hate the opening track, “Human Being (Jelly Bean).” I’d be cool if I never heard it again. Dumb idea, great execution. The VORS play the type of punchy indie rock that can easily be called punk by publications and fans, but it isn’t punk! But it isn’t all bad, either. The second track, “You Treat Me Like an Asshole,” is three-and-a-half minutes of perfect summer fun. It’s somehow surfy and beachy without relying on any associated tropes. In another life, this chorus would slam and exert a little aggression, but that’s not what they do well! The VORS don’t need the aggression to keep you in. It’s sunny and fun while still retaining a rock edge. This is music for a beach party or a summer drive with friends smoking cigs and drinking warm beers.

Without Empathy Lesser Beings cassette

Listen, all I gotta say is this: if you’re gonna go ahead and kick your record off with a WOODY GUTHRIE sample, then you best be jumping directly into a cover song immediately following it, especially if you’re a band from Oklahoma! I’d even give you a pass and let you bust out a harmonica solo!!! Anyway, this is pretty much your standard grind/powerviolence affair—the exact type of grind/powerviolence band you picture whenever anyone mentions that genre pairing. Decent enough. Drums sound great.

Zorn Return to Castle Death LP

Philadelphia’s ZORN has steadily improved and found their proper footing since their inception, becoming something of an esteemed band with an identity of its own. I could not quite get into their previous recordings, but Return to Castle Death is a definite win. The members are not just experts at painting their faces or dressing up, they are actually brilliant musicians too, with a flair for writing cracking metal punk songs for heathens and medieval cosplayers alike. I enjoy that they firmly build on the old school metal punk influences but still offer something different that can appeal to many chapels. Classic bands like GISM, ZOUO, and other Japanese metallic punk acts, early diabolical legends like VENOM or BATHORY, and of course their neighbours DEVIL MASTER all got invites on this brand new album. ZORN is a band I would love to see pair up with RIGOROUS INSTITUTION, as both share a passion for the catchy hook (the detail that makes a fine song into a good song) and each have their own identity. There seems to be a revival of old school metal punk, and I really cannot complain when it is inspired and done that well.

The Appalled The Appalled LP

Curiosities abound in the approach this English group has taken on what I perceive to be their debut LP. A ragged street rock foundation underpins the album, yet with each track, they stab out in disparate directions. The opener, “Haircut,” offers a punchy four-chord romp that, albeit repetitive, is catchy with a distinct hook and showcases the APPALLED’s most effective weapon: a powerful vocal delivery. This bloke has a set of killer pipes on him. Next song pulls the wheel towards the pub, with a melodic undertone poking out. No radical departure from the formula there, but as the songs wear on, the genre-hopping becomes more apparent, touring through hardcore, UK82, ’77 punk, Oi!…the potency begins to dilute. Nothing egregious, nothing shocking, and I’ll spare you the pun and just say that if they were to pick a lane, the APPALLED could probably leave a more memorable mark.

Bug Swallow Bug Swallow cassette

What began as a somewhat fresh take on punk has become just another ingredient on the menu. I have started to notice a pattern recently where egg-punk is treated less like a genre and more as a component in a fusion dining experiment gone wrong. This is certainly the first time I have encountered the combination of egg-punk and cowpunk. What does that equate to, farm-fresh punk? It is an odd flavor profile, that’s for sure. Perhaps stranger still is that BUG SWALLOW seems to be a Muppets-themed band, with a particular focus on Kermit the Frog. This Calgary outfit has all the expected egg-punk ingredients of guitars, bass, synth, and drum machine, but the addition of twangy banjo and harmonica pulls things into bluegrass/jug-band territory. Eight confusing songs make up this self-titled debut cassette. To the band’s credit, there are moments where the recipe comes together—whenever BUG SWALLOW eases off the novelty, the songs become considerably more palatable. Unfortunately, they lose me whenever they lean too heavily into the gimmick, particularly on the banjo-heavy, “swing your partner ’round and ’round” hoedown entitled “Way Back Here.” I absolutely understand that egg-punk is a silly genre and should not be taken too seriously, but I guess when it comes to egg, I prefer it as the main course, not as a novelty side dish scooped up at the buffet line.

Claw Toe Chicago Punk Rock Warrior / Ingrown Ego 7″

The A-side here is a straight classic. No-bullshit bass and drums lay down a foundation that is so gloriously simple—they don’t need to do anything else, and you don’t want them to do anything else. Storytelling vocals are barked passively while the guitar spits repetitive hooks into the verses, and then the chorus drops and all of the simplicity coalesces while the guitar takes off, refusing to play a power chord at any point on the damn record. The flip is a slower, gloomier take on the same formula , a re-interpretation of the freaked-out A-side from their 2009 “Criminal IQ” 45 that I haven’t listened to in so long that I feel like I’m rediscovering them all over again here. It was great then, but this version of CLAW TOE lands even better. BIRTHDAY PARTY, PHANTOM LIMBS, and BUZZCOCKS fans will rejoice.

Clean Needle Nazi Stomper EP

I am not often taken by surprise when it comes to raw punk music, and I always manage to conceal it whenever I am so as not to spoil my cool blasé look, but CLEAN NEEDLE is a pretty good surprise. It is a one-man hardcore operation from Texas as I understand it, and this is the project’s first vinyl output after a couple of tapes. Unsurprisingly, the main focus is to unleash raw (and I mean proper raw), direct, and fast ’80s hardcore punk for the unwashed. The vibe is clearly old school, especially on the fastest (and best) numbers, while others can be said to be more pogo-oriented and spikier. A fan of CHAOS UK would enjoy this a lot, I reckon, and because of the organic, primitive sound (not to mention the visuals), you could be tricked into believing that CLEAN NEEDLE is a much older project than it actually is. The vocals are very gruff however, to add some extra aggression I presume, but I don’t think it works well with every song. A very fun EP on the whole.

Diät S.O.36 Berlin Sept ’22 LP

I’ve been a fan of DIÄT since the Positive Energy LP—I’m a sucker for their cold punk rock. When I saw Iron Lung had released a live recording, well, let’s just say I was stoked. S.O. 36 is a legendary Berlin venue, and the night that DIÄT played there in September of 2022 was most certainly a special night, as the recording is alive with frenetic energy. The setlist included some of my favorites like “Foreign Policy,” “Dogshit,” and “Dead Body,” all of which sound accurate, fresh, and dynamic in their live presentation. If you’ve never listened to DIÄT, this is a great place to get started, as this recording covers material from the band’s near-decade run. As a fan, this is an unexpected gift and a perfect encapsulation of DIÄT.

Effigy Burnt Offerings 12″

Sealed digs way deep into the ’80s UK punk archives with this one, a first-time vinyl redux of the five-song 1983 demo from Aylesbury’s EFFIGY, so obscure that “it wasn’t even uploaded to YouTube” (take that, RUDIMENTARY PENI and DOLLY MIXTURE). Much like LOST CHERREES, RUBELLA BALLET, and other similarly-minded bands of the era, EFFIGY haunted the liminal space between anarcho-punk and danceable, goth-tinged post-punk, with relentless fixed-beat drums, propulsive bass lines, lyrics largely focused on paganism and witchcraft which further an air of mystique, and vocalist Nett’s defiant, fiercely melodic vocals guiding the way like a beacon through fog (machines). “Reaching for the Light” has all of the dark, anthemic drama and searing hooks of a femme-punk should-have-been classic (the MO-DETTES and SIOUXSIE dwelling in the same squat?), and the wound-up pop blitz of “Ghost” is almost BUZZCOCKS-esque, complete with scrappy guitar solos, while “Isobel” trades off between sparse, guitar/vocal-only verses and more urgent, desperate choruses in a way that brings to mind FATAL MICROBES/early HONEY BANE. Has my name all over it, a total no-brainer.

Feral State II cassette

Relentlessly gnarly rippers from Leicester, FERAL STATE follows up their 2022 debut with a worthy sophomore release in II. D-beats galore and crusty vocals meet thrashy riffs, with some slower headbanging moments peppered throughout. I can see FERAL STATE having a pretty wide appeal—they evenly mix up the metal and the punk in their sound without ever getting too lopsided, especially on tracks like “Slow Decay,” whose riff is certainly channeling a little bit of MOTÖRHEAD. Recommended.

Give Over Done In EP

The sudden tempo changes, metalcore riffs, and desperate screams call to mind bands like EVERYTIME I DIE or KNOCKED LOOSE. I’m not here to judge, so I will let you decide if that’s a good or bad thing. The production is slick and the band rips; the drummer is a goddamn maniac, but there is nothing really memorable about the songs and it left me asking “where’s the punk?” It’s aggressive and as fast they come, and the way they shift from tempo to tempo at the drop of a hat is impressive. But in the end, there is no escaping the metalcore breakdowns or death metal growls. It’s not for me, but If you’re a fan of that stuff, I think it would be worth checking out.

Head Cleaner No Truth EP reissue

There have been and are a lot of bands named HEAD CLEANER, but this one, from Tasmania, was active during the mid-’90s and played crusty youth crew, complete with thunderous bass, primitive drums, and in-your face vocals, making this HEAD CLEANER a memorable one. This twelve-track reissue is over in twelve minutes and was originally released by Fear of Children in 1996. If you’re a fan of early powerviolence, this one’s for you. However, fans of posi hardcore, crust, and DIY punk will want to hear this as well.

If I Could Just Get Some Sleep Dead Nerves, Numb Hands CD

Whoa, I fuck with this hard. Classic screamo energy paired with a layer of synths and cascading drums. This reminds me of coming home from some random party in the year of our lord 2006, drunk off my ass, scrolling MySpace, and discovering some musical duo who just bought their first Moog and decided it was time to start a band where they sang about old Nintendo games or some shit. This has I HATE YOU WHEN YOU’RE PREGNANT, HORSE THE BAND, and MAGIC CYCLOPS energy all over it, except IF I COULD JUST GET SOME SLEEP takes itself a little more seriously, which I guess solidifies the modernity of it all. Things aren’t as devil-may-care as they were twenty years ago and it’s reflective in the art. Anyhoo, this guy is from Illinois, so that gets extra points from me. A+, fantastic work!

Middleman Following the Ghost LP

MIDDLEMAN’s Following the Ghost is nine tracks of guitar-forward alternative rock from this London four-piece, and if, like me, you spent the ’90s actively avoiding this brand of emotionally-exposed, nasal-tenor alt-rock, congratulations! Your instincts were sound. The singer brings Doug Martsch to mind, which is either a selling point or a warning label depending on your relationship with BUILT TO SPILL. The band occasionally locks into something worth hearing, but that juice is definitely not worth the full 26-minute squeeze. They’re supporting SUPERCHUNK on tour this month, so maybe if you like that kind of music you’ll dig this release?

Mid Rats Enemies Within LP

MID RATS’ opening track “No Kings” sets the stage for the following seven melodic punk and hardcore songs. MID RATS and President James Buchanan, the US’s only bachelor president and who almost had a bunch of elephants delivered to DC to frolic about in the forests near the capitol, both call(ed) Lancaster, PA their home. Tight tunes and politically charged lyrics steer this record perfectly, down a well-balanced path of thoughtful and interesting songs that could easily fall off into the Fat Wreck camp. However, Enemies Within powers through with purpose and conviction. MID RATS have been a band for six years longer than President Buchanan was in office, and although the last song is over five minutes long, it goes more to prove the resolve of the band to assemble something memorable for the right reasons. This MID RATS release is a whirlwind 25 minutes that will be over before you even know it.

Noxeema Sick EP

Lots of ties to MRR with this band! Cissie Scurlock (bass) was an MRR coordinator for a while, and Erin Yanke (drums) reviewed demos and often contributes to our year-end top tens. Now, is that going to stop me from shitting on this record? No, it is not. What is going to stop me, though, is how much I love it. It’s been seven years since their last release, but that’s not at all apparent from listening to this. Sick picks up exactly where their debut EP left off, like a handful of friends who’ve never not been punks just happened to be together and got the urge to record some songs. The end result is nine one-minute tracks of trebly-as-hell punk (no subgenre necessary). It kinda sounds like Dangerhouse-era stuff mixed with something more melodic. Or maybe it’s like 50% JFA, 50% SIN 34. It doesn’t really matter—whatever it is, it’s great, and never has a group’s love of punk or DIY culture been more audible.

Oddfellows Oddfellows LP

Chris Pulliam, Mark Ryan, and Mike Throneberry first started as ODDFELLOWS in 1996, playing just a few shows. Their subsequent bands defined the Denton scene—the HIGH TENSION WIRES, the REDS, MIND SPIDERS, RADIOACTIVITY, and of course the MARKED MEN. They got back together and recorded some new songs that are an almost simplistic version of their other projects. They have the uncanny ability to make a C/G riff sound like the first time you ever heard it. The stripped-down and honest sound of the BATS or Portland’s the BUGS is there, and then some songs take a slight anti-art psych angle like URINALS, basically anything off the Negative Capability…Check It Out! compilation album. It’s like finding your weirdly cool uncle’s old high school yearbook at a garage sale and seeing where it all started.

Picket Line Dead to Me LP

Labor politics, gang chants, and breakdown-free hardcore punk—if any of these pique your interest, Dead to Me gets the job done. Seattle’s PICKET LINE delivers blue-collar hardcore fueled by class resentment, betrayal, and a conviction that the people at the top deserve every ounce of contempt headed their way. They carry the same working-class anger that powered much of the late ’00s hardcore scene (think AGNOSTIC FRONT, DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR, or even ROTTING OUT). The album feels less interested in personal grievances and more connected to collective struggle. Class-conscious hardcore that hits like a steel-toed boot.

Radical Fun Time Risen From the Ashes CD

Holy crust, this is something else entirely. RADICAL FUN TIME is currently in Minnesota, but from what I gather, they have been traveling around quite a bit as a duo. I am sure they are indeed fun and radical as punks, and anarchist politics clearly pervade these fifteen songs. This is a joyfully chaotic recording with a lot of heart, but probably not enough direction. There is some basic ’90s crust punk here, some anarcho-punk, some fastcore, but overall, it sounds like a big collective soup for the punks. It might not be the best meal you’ll ever have, but it is warm, organic, and made with heart.

Smarm Lick the Fist EP

Cool little three-song EP out of Cincinnati. The first song, “Lick the Fist,” reminds me a lot of the heavily metal-influenced punk I’m seeing a lot of locally and regionally in the Midwest. It’s a minute-and-a-half of TURBONEGRO-influenced rock’n’roll that’s as dumb as it is fun. “Make Something Happen” is a catchy take on action rock with a chorus made for ’90s college radio, like a catchier and less explosive NEW BOMB TURKS.

Spectre Twisted Views LP

Como, Italy’s SPECTRE does god’s (or perhaps, satan’s) work by bringing deathrock back to the table with their second album, Twisted Views. It’s a deranged cabaret of gloom and doom where the gothic atmosphere is masterfully blended with the explosiveness of punk rock. Tastefully tribal drums and rock-solid bass are responsible for the ritualistic feel of this record. On top of this unbreakable backbone, guitars soaking with various effects supply abrasive textures amidst waves of feedback. And the cherry on top is, of course, extremely expressive and proportionally dramatic vocals that just work perfectly with this style. It might sound like I’m exaggerating, but I believe that if this record had been released at the prime of the genre, we would be calling it an essential classic. Absolutely a must-hear record.

Subversive Intent Subversive Intent LP

San Diego’s SUBVERSIVE INTENT deals with fast, stomping hardcore, and they do a great job at it. They go for a NEGATIVE APPROACH, CARRY ON, and PUNCH kind of sound, with just enough youth crew bounce to keep every moment memorable. With a punchy production, SUBVERSIVE INTENT keeps it short, pissed, and loaded with hooks. The kind of record that’ll get rinsed a dozen times before you even realize that you’ve been listening for two hours.

Water Heater Weaponless Attack High Explosive Anti-Tank cassette

Debut full-length cassette from this project out of Indonesia, and when I say full-length, you better believe I mean it. At 50 tracks and roughly an hour-and-a-half in duration, WATER HEATER seems to have thrown everything, including the kitchen sink, into this release. WATER HEATER has been releasing digital singles and EPs since 2023, and I believe this is their first physical release, though I can’t say that with complete certainty. What I can say for certain is that this is a legitimately cool and energetic post-punk, new wave, and egg-punk amalgamation. The tape begins with a synth-heavy noise track featuring spoken-word instructions on how to replace your water heater. Whether gas or electric, and even tankless options, WATER HEATER makes sure everyone knows the correct and safe way to install this major household appliance. As a bit of a home repair enthusiast, I would have given this tape a thumbs up if that had been the only track. Lo and behold, that was just the beginning of a very long journey. If this tape were roughly one-third as long, I’d be willing to bet that multiple labels, myself included, would be clamoring to put out the next release from this wildly versatile band. With the amount of genre-hopping that WATER HEATER eventually devolves into on this cassette, it only furthers my belief that this really should have been split into multiple different releases. From where we began, we end up veering into lo-fi synth-pop for a number of tracks, then warbly garage rock, before ultimately ending with about a dozen tracks of outright avant-garde nonsense. While it’s never great to be in a position where your water heater is too small and runs out while you’re in the shower, it does at least leave you wanting more, which is something you’re unlikely to be feeling after track 50 fades out.

Zeměžluč Všeho Do Času LP

For 40 years, Czechia’s ZEMĚŽLUČ has been chucking out sing-along punk, and this batch of tunes continues with the unyielding punk and hardcore pace that they set in 1986. Všeho Do Času is another relentless blast of kinetic punk, building with uneasiness and leaving you twitching just waiting for that lightning strike. The songs could be passed off as “standard” musically, but it is in the urgency and deliberate tone that Šoty delivers each line that pulls you forward through the fourteen songs. I can’t wait to see what the next 40 years bring for these people.

V/A Never Mind 50 Years the Kids EP

Is this a tribute to Antwerp legends the KIDS? Or is it new recordings from the band in celebration of their 50 year anniversary? It’s both. This celebratory EP sees the mighty KIDS re-recording a couple lesser-heard tracks, including an old live number called “No Work,” giving fans something nice to add to the band’s long-dormant catalog. These tunes are mixed in with experimental covers from three other Belgian groups who have come to pay respect to these O.G. punk’n’rollers. HETZE offers a violent rendition of “Fascist Cops,” KOTSKAT takes “For the Fret” into the realm of minimalist synth, and COLERE adds new speed and fury to the classic “Do You Love the Nazis?” It’s a great excuse to revisit and rejoice in the KIDS, and it’s worth picking up for the first track alone.

Abrichten Aufheben cassette

ABRICHTEN find themselves a middle ground between the atmosphere of early doom metal and expressiveness of noise rock with their new release Aufheben. With its (relatively) lengthy songs and slow-burn approach, it definitely has its own intense ambiance…yet it feels a bit too drawn-out at times. It is a bit outside of my taste for noise rock, but it is well-produced for sure.

Banana Clip Banana Clip cassette

This tape opens with a sound clip from Hanoi Hannah, the North Vietnamese radio broadcaster who famously used psychological warfare against American G.I.s during the Vietnam War. From there, you are subjected to BANANA CLIP’s own version of psychological warfare via an onslaught of blastbeats, crusty grindcore riffage, and savage political imagery. There is a rawness to the recording that I really dug, and I think that it supports the nature of the songs. The highlight for me is “Politically Unhoused,” which is also a great song title. In under two minutes, they manage to combine death metal vocals, nasty chugging breakdowns, and blistering hardcore drums. It’s kind of all over the place musically, but I think that’s the charm. For a trio, they do some damage. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for noisy, dissonant, and politically-charged grind.

Creepy Future Brace Yourself LP

CREEPY FUTURE comes out swinging with lo-fi(-ish), high-energy, catchy-ass sing-along punk rock. Fourteen songs in under twenty-eight minutes that go by as if it were only thirteen minutes (or maybe even six-and-a-half minutes), seemingly over as soon as it began. Parts of Brace Yourself remind me of SUPERNOVA, TOYS THAT KILL, and bands that have taken elements of pop punk but make it their own. From start to finish, CREEPY FUTURE have created a perfect LP to kick off summertime.

Cruelly Ugly Behaviour 12″

While the definition of “grungegaze” isn’t hard to understand, it is a new-to-me term. And if this record is any indication of the genre, I’ll say I fucking love it. Pōneke, Aotearoa’s (Wellington, NZ) CRUELLY are out with their debut EP, showcasing noise, melody, bleeding-reverb guitars, and sun-soaked female vocals. Do you need an aggressive cry? Maybe to light a candle, stomp around in your boots, and scream into a mirror? Then this record may too be for you. High energy and venom; dour mood and heartache. If you’re left wanting more, they have a Live at San Fran + Bonus Tracks CD out (the sound quality of which is quite good), and I hear rumors of an LP?? Watch this group. They may be your new obsession.

Dear Darkness Gold, Guns, N More! cassette

DEAR DARKNESS really embrace their Motor City roots and come out swinging with a solid three-song EP. Dark, groovy no wave with haunting vocals and buzzed-out, fuzzed-out guitars. The tape goes by quickly, so I recommend giving it a couple of plays. Really great stuff here.

The Downstrokes The Furious Hours LP

West Coast to Third Coast, Rotten Princess puts out a terrific variety of punk, noise, hip hop, etc. that seems to always, at the very least, keep my attention all the way through, and at their very best, doesn’t leave my stereo for weeks to months. The DOWNSTROKES are a mid-tempo, Northern East Coast garage/punk/power pop band with hooks by the handful. Personally, I wish the production was a little muddier, but that’s a me thing. I can’t help but feel like there’s something lacking. Follow me here—the music is tight, the lyrics are thoughtful and tuneful, and all together, the songs are melodic and have tons of catchiness, so maybe the delivery of the whole feels like it’s lacking conviction, and moreover simply plodding through. Most of the songs come close to or over three minutes. I think this could have been a top-of-the-charts summer banger if the songs would have been capped at two to two-and-a-half minutes each. However, by the end of the third time through The Furious Hours, I am more in tune with where they are going in terms of setting up the longer-structured songs and giving the melody time to sink in. Maybe somewhere in the middle would be best? I guess I’m the jerk here (shrug emoji).