Reviews

Emma Miller

1186 Histeria 12″

Punk, post-punk, while also gothic and melodic at times. I loved the variety in guitar from kind of droning and screechy, to more classically distorted. The vocals in “Ataque Sistematico” reminded me a lot of early CHRISTIAN DEATH, but they felt more solid and were able to adapt to the different styles of songs. My favorite track is definitely “Encerrados,” as it has growlier vocals and heavy, clear drums that really just stand out and slap you in the face before quickly increasing the tempo. Overall, I loved the kind of darker punk vibe these guys brought while maintaining some more classic punk elements.

Endora y Sus Vicios Son Mis Normas LP

Post-punk feel with more intense, punky vocals. I loved how angry and fierce the vocals were throughout, which paired nicely with the more punchy and choppy guitar (like in “Guerra al Desencanto”); it really just comes at you and taunts you relentlessly. They didn’t lose intensity throughout the album though, like with “Vecino,” where they upped the tempo to a more classically punk speed that really keeps you on your toes. They really know when certain parts are needed; they know when to have only vocals and drums versus everything together, they don’t overdo anything.

Judy and the Jerks / Shitty Life split LP

Good HC/punk split record. JUDY AND THE JERKS open insanely strong with a unique start to “Something On Your Mind?—super-fast guitar, then a break for a quick bass lick. Their songs manage to somehow get faster and faster, to the point where I audibly said “goddamn,” out loud. Sheer speed and madness, loved it. SHITTY LIFE brings the same energy in a different way. While they’re less fast, the clean guitar mixed with loud and slightly distorted vocals creates a fun combination. More of a power punk band, they’re punk but with more character. “Your Life, Their Choice” is a powerful track to end the album with.

Pigmale Brains Sanity? Okay! cassette

Weird, punky band from Indianapolis. I thought these guys were so fun to listen to, they were so different and weird that I was immediately hooked. My absolute favorite track was “Big Struttin,” where the guitar and vocals mimic one another tauntingly, then morphs into this just absolutely heavy metal scream that was so distant yet guttural, I was blown away. I also loved the variety of kinda funky bass lines with both heavy slower guitar (like the explosion of noise in “Liar Liar,” wow) and more classically punky guitar. The way the vocals and instruments worked off of and balanced one another was so impressive because they weren’t separate at all but continued to create one cohesive musical space. The vocals also reminded me of Kat Moss of SCOWL at times, but with a more kinda whiny and unique quality. Absolutely loved these guys.

La Otra Gente / Ojo de Ajo split cassette

LA OTRA GENTE and OJO DE AJO really build off of each other to create a great punk cassette. The artwork for this cassette greatly reminded me of Sister by SONIC YOUTH, but more whimsical. I loved the loud, yelling punk vocals of LA OTRA GENTE, and how they kept a great variety of tempos throughout that didn’t disappoint. With touches of power punk in “Jirafa Ardiendo” and a heavier and slower guitar riff in “Cemento,” they’re able to cover lots of ground. Similarly, OJO DE AJO also had a variety of musical styles in their half of the cassette. They start off with a cool spoken word style in a sludgier track of “Mentiras de Verdad” but transition to a more grunge-y style as well as a kind of heavier shoegaze and then back to classic punk. Wow. They ended with a bang with super heavy guitar that feels like it’s sweeping the ground like a dense fog, combined with great layered screams. Overall, would recommend this to anyone who wants a taste of good modern punk.

Gossip Collar Spinning Silk for Parasites LP

Classic goth, darkwave, post-punk band. Very ’80s-sounding with great gothic lyrics, like “Why does he have no head?” in the track “Midnight Rider” (possibly a nod to their awesome album cover of a headless spectre holding a candle). I can’t decide on my favorite track, but I think it’s between “Seventeen,” which is reminiscent of the CURE, or “Hiding Place” with its great spooky intro. There’s lots of good, classic, gothic bass at the start of a couple songs, and there’s a good balance of distorted guitar in contrast with more melodic and hypnotizing guitar lines throughout the album. Overall, get your eyeliner and black clothes ready, because you’re going to want to become goth after listening to this.

Rotary Club Sphere of Service LP

Punk four-piece from Reno. These guys sure know how to stick to a theme and really work it to unique angles. Themes of telephones were very present throughout the record. Besides the titles of some songs (“Touch Tone,” “My Landline,” etc.), I loved how they included other elements like a phone dialing in the chorus of “New Communication,” or the chanting of a phone number in “My Landline,” or even just the more subtle elements like having a good amount of call-and-response in the vocals, mimicking a conversation had on a telephone. I just loved the unique edge they brought to their fast songs with witty lyrics and classic punk energy.

Kosmetika Luxury LP

KOSMETIKA brings a mix of rock, indie, ’80s new wave, and generally more relaxed vibes. My favorite track is “Fish” as it’s the most weird and unique, with spoken words during the verses, in combination with some synth, transitioning to a more indie-style chorus. I also liked the variety of male and female vocals, both of which felt hypnotizingly relaxing. However, some of the tracks felt a bit long and I found myself being distracted or losing my attention. “Automobile” definitely brought me out of that with its funky beat and use of saxophone. Not quite my cup of tea, but if you like a more mellow kind of pop or rock, then you should check these guys out.

V/A Scrumble CD

If you’re looking for a unique composition of garage-y rock and punk, look no further. DOTRASH starts out the album with an unbelievably fast chorus in “Package” that makes you feel the need to start slam dancing immediately. The VAXXINES come into play with astute, sharp, and classically punk lyrics, my favorite ones being in the track “Drink Sake, Destroy” (no further explanation needed). OOPS brings a variety of super short songs with desperate screaming at times, and shoegaze-esque guitar at others. To end the CD, YOKOTHEMA has a more rock-style guitar with distant, droning, and melodic vocals in “うなばら,” and a great subtle buildup in “イメージ.” Overall, whichever artist you choose, you’ll experience something fresh.

Blue Ray Explain This (Deluxe) cassette

Dark electronic post-punk band with ’80s vibes. I loved the combination of more classically gothic elements (like the choir-esque intro in “Downtown”) with the large variety of vocal types (distorted vocals in “On All Fours,” spoken word-style in “Downtown,” speaking while exhaling smoke in “Gimme”) that really keep you on your toes. The variety of dark elements they utilized really contributed to their overall sound. With electronic solos in a couple of tracks, they really shine in their cover of “Wicked Game.” They’re able to take the song, change it to their more upbeat and post-punk style, and create a song that leaves you feeling emotionally crushed.

Festa del Perdono Società Mentale EP

Post-punk, sort of dark rock/punk band. I was really drawn to the vocals on this EP, as they were sort of punk-style speaking, and borderline rap at times due to the sheer speed at which he was singing and speaking. My favorite track was “Pomeriggio Dorato,” as it had a more spooky and atmospheric intro, followed by almost ska-style guitar, reminiscent of “Ghost Town” by the SPECIALS. It also had a great bass interlude in the middle of the track. Overall, get ready to get immersed in a dark and wonderfully gloomy atmosphere.

E.V.A. II EP

As soon as I looked at the album cover, I was hooked: badass gothic imagery. Their music built off the artwork to create a new universe where you’re utterly immersed in their post-punk/gothic music. The long melodic vocals at the start of “El Fuego” made me feel like I was wandering around an abandoned church or graveyard, in addition to the darker and more ominous feelings in “La Muerte” (a fitting title). Similarly, I enjoyed the simplicity of the titles, being only one word, as it didn’t take away from the complexity and layers of the music. At times, the vocals had a droning quality reminiscent of Siouxsie Sioux, which is an immediate thumbs up from me. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this.

Nunofyrbeeswax / Top Down Diggin’ in the Dirt / Deep Thoughts split EP

With only two tracks on one side of an EP, NUNOFYRBEESWAX makes sure to leave their mark. They’re garage punk with a more unique edge. “Deep Thoughts” sounds more stripped-down in terms of sound, but in a great, punky way. I loved the tempo change in the middle of “André el Gigante,” which was much slower and led to a smooth transition into the fading out of guitar at the end of the song (not to mention, some sharp-witted lyrics). These guys are definitely worth checking out.

Cell Deth Catholic Guilt EP

Super-fast, super-punk band from Canada. Most of their songs clocked in around the one-minute mark, very classically punk. I really enjoyed the overarching themes of the album that were incorporated throughout each song, I found that it really tied it all together, and I thought it was great. I also enjoyed the switching of tempos in a couple of tracks from the super-fast to the (slightly) slower, more classically HC beats. That being said, sometimes the tracks felt quite similar to one another, but I was still jamming out.

The Protos Drain in My Brain LP

Garage punk with good whiny shouting to hop around to. There were a couple of tracks where I felt my mind wandering as I wasn’t particularly captivated, but then the track would change and I’d be alerted back to the present with something new. Every song had a good hook to start with (usually either feedback or unique riffs), but a couple of the tracks started to lose that in the rest of the song. That being said, I loved “Forever,” with heavy ghost notes and noise with intense screaming. There were other elements too that kept luring me back in, like different tempo changes with “I’m Into It,” or the witty lyricism in “Stab a Speaker.”

Corker Hallways of Grey LP

Darkwave post-punk with the occasional touch of gothic or otherworldly synths. CORKER’s LP starts off with a powerful rhythm section of pounding drums and a menacing bass line, setting the tone for the rest of the record. I appreciate the variety they managed to capture with the spoken word in “Forever Silent,” to a short noise section in the middle of “Distant Dawn,” to the faster, more punky guitar in “Wiring.” Some of the tracks blended together a bit for me, but I loved the choice of ending the LP with “No Necessities,” as it’s the darkest and gloomiest track that seemed to encapsulate their vibe as a whole.

Beef ll Manzo EP

Synth-y garage punk band with a slight touch of horror punk at times. I loved how cohesive this EP was throughout and how the songs continued to build off of each other. That being said, I feel like I wanted a little more variation with the synth throughout the different songs as it seemed quite similar in a couple of them, but I do think that it added another dimension to the songs. The combination of edge and a bit of goofiness, like in “Secondhand Toe Jam,” really made the songs come to life. In “Spell,” it felt like the synths were taunting me and egging me on to go and do something like run into a wall.

Kalte Hand S​ä​ureblocker 12″

Catchy, moody post-punk band from Germany. As someone who doesn’t speak or understand German, I loved that you don’t have to know exactly what the singer is saying to understand the music; it speaks for itself. KALTE HAND isn’t afraid to go heavy with the drums and rhythm section as a whole, as well as beginning and ending the album with anxious guitar lines that sound like they’re trying to escape something, all of which creates a darker and intriguing vibe to their music.

Brass Lip Vol. II cassette

Two-piece punk band with lots of shouting and feminist lyrics. I never would have guessed that this was recorded on GarageBand with only two people—the sound is so full that you can’t tell. The talking style of singing in the verses, with a quick tempo change for the chorus, made “Gentleman of Leisure” my favorite song. I enjoyed the more exploratory guitar in the intro and solo, and kind of wished there was more like that in some of the other tracks. The variation of more droning guitar in “Criminal Conversation” helped to build out their sound as well. Overall, I would say this is a solid couple of tracks.

Sabotage I’ve Got Big Feelings EP

Need some good screaming? Look no further. The duality of screams from both a female and male vocalist throughout this EP really blew me away, especially the call-and-response in “I’ve Got Big Feelings.” Somewhat screamo at times, but otherwise HC/punk, SABOTAGE is not messing around. With a sprinkle of tempo changes while still keeping their fast energy, these guys sure are hardcore.

3 the Hardway Cost of Living / Newspaper 7″

3 THE HARD WAY is a unique, kind of experimental riot grrrl band. With the first side of “Cost of Living,” you’re thrown into a very rhythmic setting with lots of female grunting and singing. It very much reminded me of “Pacific Coast Highway” by SONIC YOUTH, I loved it. On the other side, “Newspaper” felt more artsy and melodic. It made me feel like I was in a washing machine being tumbled around and hearing the singing from inside a soapy space. Overall, I really enjoyed how these two tracks played with each other and created a really unique experience.

Silicon Heartbeat 2889 EP

SILICON HEARTBEAT is a perfect horror rock/punk band for spooky season, but also year-round. These guys are so strange in the best way. I really enjoyed the variety of more punk songs to the weirder, more synth-heavy ones. With clear distorted bass lines sprinkled throughout ghost-like synths, they create an eerie vibe that seems to linger. They end their EP with a fantastic cover of KRAFTWERK’s “The Model;” a bit more reminiscent of BIG BLACK’s cover, but more otherworldly. Just by checking out their album cover, you know you’re in for an unearthly good time.

Beige Banquet Ornamental Hermit LP

BEIGE BANQUET is anything but beige when it comes to their musical style. They bring an almost artsy and darker vibe to punk, utilizing both distorted bass lines and heavy percussion at times. What gripped me most was the haunting repetition of vocal lines that were layered over noisy and gloomy instruments. They’re able to smoothly transition from a slightly heavier and noisier energy in “Parasitic Energy” to a quieter percussion solo in the intro of “Mind Lapse”, which I find just really well done. The use of spoken words was really interesting too, and kept me on my toes. Overall, BEIGE BANQUET brings a unique twist and energy to punk.

Urban Misery Demo 2024 cassette

URBAN MISERY kicks off their demo with a slower and distinct bass line that quickly morphs into a super fast-paced classic punk song. It’s hard to choose what stood out to me the most: the wailing screams that seem to hover around you, egging you on, the high energy bass that seems to jump out of the shadows and attack you, or the guitar which seems to act as third vocalist in adding high-pitched tones in an almost call-and-response way in “WTF.” Overall, great fast-tempo punk.

Bathouse Helping Bats Helping People 12″

Noisy garage punk band with whiny screaming. I’m a bit prejudiced because of my love of bats, but I thoroughly enjoyed this album. With each song, you get jolted with a different style of fast and upbeat noise. I can’t decide what my favorite track is. I loved the funky intro into the heavy-ass chaos in “Ideal Specimen,” as well as the build-up in “Bathouse” where you’re just hit with a wall of sound that catapults you through a void.

Lothario Hogtied LP

Very raunchy and fun lyricism with lots of sexual themes that matched the vibe of the music. I also enjoyed the distorted vocals and distinct bass lines. However, some of the songs kind of blended together for me and made me a bit bored. I think having most of the songs in the same tempo throughout, and with similar drum tracks at times, made the songs sound quite similar. The album felt a bit long, but the bit of variation of “Doggy” to “Suckhole” back-to-back did help. Overall, the album felt a bit “meh” to me, but if you’re into this style of garage punk/rock, I’d give it a try.

Rabid Children Does the Heartbeat LP

Not quite sure how to categorize these guys, but I’d say somewhere in the noise pop/experimental rock realm. The album kicked off with some great noise and gloomy vibes, and each song that followed was unique to the one prior, with some nice tempo changes. It slowly became more pop than rock as the album progressed. The ghost-like keyboard sounds were a unifier throughout the album, which I thoroughly enjoyed. To somewhat finish off the album, the mega solo in “Other Dreams” definitely felt like I was being exported to some other world; truly rad. Overall, I tended to like the first couple of tracks the best as they were the most experimental, but I thought that this LP was a gloomy good time.

V/A No Sleep Til Palestine is Free cassette

What a weird collection of music, I loved it. Nothing is more punk than a collection of bands in the name of an issue they deeply care about, and No Sleep Til Palestine is Free is a perfect example of that. The variety of genres was refreshing, as it had experimental electronic, punk, no wave, garage rock, folk, and more. This album really has it all and keeps you on your toes, not knowing what to expect next. While in some of the tracks, you can hear that the recording quality is not the highest, but I feel that it contributes to the angry punk vibe that’s felt throughout the album. The tracks that really hit home for me were “No Sleep (Live),” as I feel they really embodied the vibe of the whole album and was great to hear it as a live version. Overall, I loved how strange and fun this collection of music was!

Irked Snakes EP

Garage punk band from Northern England. I was drawn to the illegible screaming in the opening track “Snakes,” but found myself a bit bored as the songs went on. I did enjoy the variation in their songs, with the feminist lyrics in “Backstreets,” to the more pop elements of “Move”. The rhythms in the first few opening tracks were intriguing as well. However, I found it difficult to distinguish this band from other garage punk bands, as there was nothing that really jumped out to me.

Paratonnerre Paratonnerre demo cassette

Garage punk three-piece from France. While I had a bit of trouble distinguishing them from other garage punk bands, something that stood out to me was the droning guitar. I feel that if the guitar had less character and was more like a basic rhythm guitar, then there wouldn’t be anything super intriguing about them. However, there were elements I enjoyed like the lyricism (specifically in “So Broke”) and how they incorporated French into at least one of their tracks. For me, I quite enjoyed the character of the guitar, but it felt a bit “meh” overall.

Mantarochen In the Badgers Cave EP

MANTAROCHEN is a darkwave, gothic post-punk band from Germany. I was immediately drawn to their EP solely from the title—In the Badgers Cave, so badass. With the opening track, “Reflection,” you feel as though you’re in another world. Perhaps underwater, swirling in the moody abyss they’ve created. Reminiscent of SELOFAN with distinct bass lines and synths, they are able to create an atmosphere of unrest, leaving you with a haunted feeling. I loved how lost I got in this EP.

K.O. Queen #1 K.O. Queen cassette

Hardcore/screamo band that feels like they’re going to rip out your hair (in a great way). I was hooked when “Shrcc Attcc” started, and the raw, guttural sounds began. For me, it was a silly and hectic experience in the best way; the vocals were so goofy, crazy, all different pitches, that I swear only a dog could hear them. The track “Luv Bug” felt a bit out of place as it was acoustic with a banjo, unlike all the other tracks, but then the tape did return to its typical hardcore nature. Not entirely sure if I’m sold on that track or not, but all the others were a 10/10 for me.

Bed Maker Bed Maker LP

Without any prior knowledge of the band, my original reaction was “wow, this sounds a lot like the way Ian MacKaye sings,” just for me to find out that his sister Amanda MacKaye is the lead. Her vocals though have a touch of the droning of Siouxsie Sioux, mixed with the spoken yowling of Ian MacKaye. The majority of the songs are slow-to-mid-tempo with a kind of post-punk and artsy punk vibe. A couple of the songs sort of blended together to me, as they were sonically pretty similar and didn’t have a ton of variation. However, “Pan-Pan” had a nice tempo change and I think it’s a great song to end the album with.

Neuf Volts Ignorance cassette

A HC/classic punk band from France. The cover of the cassette originally drew me in with its classic punk vibe; it has drawings in the style of American Traditional tattoos, including the mythical creature, the Griffin. The fun doesn’t stop there, though. Using a combination of both French and English, NEUF VOLTS brings a high-energy sound (yet with no screaming, only loud vocals) that makes you feel like you are seeing them live at a show. The contrast of the higher-pitched yelling creates a delicious contrast to the fuzzy and distorted guitar. If you like any style of punk or hardcore, I would check these guys out.

The Side Eyes What’s Your Problem? LP

The SIDE EYES range from punk to hardcore to a touch of hard rock, all throughout one album. With a range of lyrics of the classic punk “get out of my face” style, to more thought-out lyrics as a comment on society, they give a classic hardcore, head-bopping vibe. Their LP is loaded with a shit-ton of super short, super powerful songs. Specifically, the tracks “False World” and “What’s Your Problem?” go so hard, so fast. Without giving you much time to think, they dive into their next track with a new kick to the face.

Pyrex Bozo EP

To define this EP in two words, I would say magnificent chaos. Heavy, distorted vocals/screaming overlay the tight fastcore instruments, while maintaining a bit of a spooky vibe. Specifically, the track “Viper” seems like the type of song that would be playing during a chase scene in a horror movie. I feel like this EP would be great to play if you need motivation to do something and want music to get you excited enough to do it. Overall, I would say that much like their band name, PYREX’s music is sturdy and timeless.

Hall Last Days of Youth LP

Gothic, dark garage rock by a three-piece from Berlin. Hall sounds as if BAUHAUS and the ORWELLS had a baby; they utilize a variety of tempos, mostly midrange, in combination with haunting vocals. The instrumentals didn’t “wow” me, as they mostly seemed to be in support of the vocals rather than standing on their own, and some of the songs seemed a bit repetitive in terms of melody. However, the songs overall are all very catchy and slightly off-putting, in a great way. The standout track on this album to me is “Last Days of Youth,” as it has a stronger presence than some of the other songs and delves into a slightly heavier vibe.

Snitfit Snitfit demo cassette

Nothing screams punk more than a group of teenagers making hardcore music, and SNITFIT, a group from Newfoundland, is a testament to the importance of it. With classic punk and garage-y instrumentals combined with riot grrrl lyricism, they bring a fresh style of punk feminism reimagined. Reminiscent of the yowling screams of Amy Taylor of AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS, combined with a deep passion bloomed from youth, SNITFIT has an enticing edge. Songs like “Bitch” and “Grope” show how SNITFIT uses blunt lyricism to strike through to the listener, as it feels like their instruments are somehow going to burst through the speakers and, quite literally, hit you in the face.