Reviews

For review and radio play consideration:

Please send 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. Please include contact information and let us know where your band is from!

Drug Czars Compendium CD

With nineteen studio tracks and eight live cuts, this CD compiles what I believe is the entire recorded output of ’90s South Florida weirdos DRUG CZARS. Commandeered by former members of the EAT and ROACH MOTEL, the band played punchy outsider rock with indie and pseudo-country inflections. The tunes cover a wide spectrum of energies. Some display a driving kind of post-punk, but then they’ll break out into the rootsy hardcore of “God’s Got a Gun,” slip into a sordid din like on “Let’s Go Satan,” or reveal a Doc Dart-esque sinister side on “Someday I’ll Crush Them All Like Bugs.” They also do some covers ranging from JEFFERSON AIRPLANE to WIRE, and some of the best songs here are buried in the raw sound of the live recordings. It’s dank and infectious stuff, a strangely compelling soup that may appeal to fans of later-era GUN CLUB and THOMAS JEFFERSON SLAVE APARTMENTS.

Easy Kill What a Blow! cassette

Not awful. Though it does seem like the production is the only thing to phone home about, the short length saves me from completely eviscerating it. I kind of had fun listening to it. The vocalist has some lines that made me laugh, and the guitar tone is nice and clear. I think if they work on it, they could be something special. However, some of the drum parts felt out of place, and I just don’t find anything super engaging going on here. It’s a decent listen if you just have it playing in the background, though.

Fuckcrusher / Penny split LP

Listen, I’m a huge fan of unique vocalists, especially in a genre like punk music which requires you to think outside the box if you ever plan to shine among the crowd. And I’m really sorry here because, again, I absolutely love when bands try something different, but both of these acts are marred with grating and unlistenable singers, which is a real shame because the music is fantastic. FUCKCRUSHER plays classic multi-vocal powerviolence akin to MAN IS THE BASTARD. One of the singers sounds fine, but the other one loves to hit this piercing shrill that I cannot handle. Maybe I’m just getting old? It seems like they’re trying to go for an ULTIMATE WARRIORS vibe, but it just sounds like they’re blowing a referee whistle. PENNY plays sloppy punk rock that I was pretty excited about at first, but their singer sounds like Mickey Mouse on a bender. You know what though? The more I listen to this, the more I kinda like it. It’s oddly wholesome and charming. The whole band joins in on gang-vocal duties for their track “Tree,” and it’s truly the breakout single of this whole ordeal. Fuck it, this album is an experience, and I recommend you listen to it at least once. Maybe there is a little bit of shine here.

Giuda Louder Than Action / It’s Not About the Money 7″

After roughly five years, the Italian royals of bootrock return with yet another pair of soaring anthems. The driving verses of “Louder Than Action” pull you in right away and reward you with a big chorus replete with handclaps and the group shout of “gun it!” On the flipside, “It’s Not About the Money” manages to raise the bar even further with a classic mid-tempo stomper, letting you put those boots to good use. If you haven’t been introduced to GIUDA in the last fifteen years, you can’t go wrong picking up any of their singles, but this is a perfect entry point.

Heather the Jerk Surreal Good Fun Exciting Tape cassette

I’d say this is some solid, catchy pop music backed with an electronic drum kit. And given the name Heather and the fact that they’re from Wisconsin, I’d say this is Heather Sawyer, formerly with the HUSSY. It’s mid-tempo and catchy as all hell and the vocals just draw you in. This is perfect for dancing without even having to leave the couch. You just bounce around. Fun fact: when the HUSSY was a thing, they stayed at our place! And if this isn’t Heather Sawyer, you should just feel honored that you even got mentioned in the same breath.

Kriegshög Love & Revenge LP

KRIEGSHÖG return with their unpolished but anthemic D-beat in working order. Personally, I like this middle ground between the overproduced, two-minute-mark-breaking stadium crust of years past and the wave atonal noise just now receding from its 2014 high water mark (no disrespect to either, just a personal preference). It’s satisfying to hear a familiar but well-done D-riff delivered with just the right amount of schmutz on top. All that and a run time of just over twenty minutes, which is just as long as a punk LP should be.

Motorsav Dødsløse Nætter LP

Copenhagen punks MOTORSAV released this fifteen-song album earlier this year, and I’ve only now gotten around to listening to it. K-Town-style hardcore punk that incorporates synthesizers, and has a bleak, post-punk sort of vibe: I’m in. The opening song has a long, atmospheric opening that spontaneously becomes a punk song, and that’s just the first track. Creative arrangements emerge throughout this album, with MOTORSAV using their instruments’ full capabilities. Towards the end of the album, there are a few cover songs, with one being “Girl U Want” by DEVO. I guess what I’m trying to say is that Dødsløse Nætter is a good time.

Hayes Noble As It Was, As We Were CD

There’s a generally believed legend that the best punk-inspired music, in its heyday, came from Washington. HAYES NOBLE has proved this tale extends past the ’90s on his sophomore album, As It Was, As We Were. Upon listening, the album cordially invites you to a marriage between wonderfully layered shoegaze soundscapes and the hurried noise of post-hardcore. HAYES NOBLE provides the vocal hallmark of any indie band, singing of young, sultry summers and dreamy disillusionment with reality. There are many great details in the album’s composition, such as the smooth transition from the opener “Escape” to “In Search Of,” or the lovely scenic imagery evoked by “On Montrose.” The album is peppered with magic moments of gritty feedback, auric revivals of MY BLOODY VALENTINE, and an atmosphere of bedroom danceability. As for musicianship, solid bass by Everett Noble and catchy drums by Brett Noble excel on tracks like, “Blue To Grey” and “The End.” I wonder if they’re a family-comprised band, which would be cool. This June release is a definite addition to my summer soundtrack.

Osbo Say It to My Face EP

USHC-inspired downer punk from Down Under. Sydney has cultivated a reputation for producing eclectic acts, and OSBO maintains that tradition in a wholly distinct way. Following up their 2020 demo, the band has honed their sound some, but make no mistake, this is just as heavy, noisy, and unhinged. They eschew the standard hardcore formula in a way that has me imagining what PISSED JEANS would sound like covering NO TREND. There is a tension arising from their oscillating tempos, where just when it seems like things have gone completely off the rails, the meandering instrumentation will snap back into a focused assault. Atop it all, the snot-addled, back-of-throat vocals propel the songs forward. OSBO pulls off the rare feat of being frenetic, unpredictable, and tight all at once. An ample reminder that it pays to keep it freaky.

Pershing Boys Versteckt EP

It is always very tricky to review a band like PERSHING BOYS. I assume that because of their longevity and because they formed in 1985, they must have an aura locally that cannot quite be grasped from the outside, and therefore the perspective that someone familiar with their status holds is necessarily different to mine. I had never heard of the band and was never much of a Deutschpunk expert, so here we go. They are from Konstanz, South Germany, and this is their new EP, with four songs of beefy hardcore punk with lyrics in German. The production is probably too polished and clean for its own good and is lacking in aggression, especially in the band’s faster moments. However, the clever songwriting highlights the band’s energy, reminiscent of the classic German punk bands that combined melodies with direct angry punk. PERSHING BOYS manage to remain quite catchy, whether through dark choruses or epic guitar leads (there are quite a few of them, be prepared), and the songs are never dull—overall, the mood is quite dark and the EP works. I love the introduction to the last song “Fortschritt” that sounds incredibly epic and triumphant and could have been lifted from a legendary Japanese hardcore record. I suspect fans of Deutschpunk, those who have a genuine connection with the genre, will enjoy this, because it is objectively a fine EP.

The Pox Graveyards I Have Robbed cassette

Four songs of spooky-themed, garage-tinged rock’n’roll from Montreal. A blown-out recording done “in glorious mono,” with long “scary sounds” clips between songs. This is super fun and seems like it would be an absolute blast to see performed live, especially if the POX really ham up the horror-loving aspect in their live show. An incredibly low number of these seem to have been made; mine is number 15 of 23, and while I am stoked to have a copy, I can’t help but be a little jealous that a deluxe edition of the cassette exists, which includes a bunch of different inserts as well as a “suspicious bag of dirt” all packaged within a plastic VHS clamshell case.

River City Rebels Pop Culture Baby EP

Long-running pop punk New Englanders RIVER CITY REBELS return with a new four-track EP that’s brimming with cultural and societal critique, just as they’ve been doing since the turn of the millennium. Tracks like “Rock a Cross” and “Unless You’re White” are outward-looking indictments that could be about one specific person or a broad gesture to half the damn country. The big payoff on this record is the closing track “Abuse Myself.” Here, the critique turns inward and we are treated to a sub-90-second scorcher. Ending with the mirror flipped on themselves, RIVER CITY REBELS remind you what can happen to yourself, perhaps as a byproduct of the dumpster fires happening all around you.

Saddam Death Cave Planned Obsolescence 10″

SADDAM DEATH CAVE, a hardcore punk outfit hailing from the streets of Atlanta, is a musical force to be reckoned with, featuring members that play or played in PRIMATE, OTOPHOBIA, and RENT BOYS, just to name a few, which just might catch your attention. On their second release, they reshaped their focus and re-recorded the songs from their The Third Battle of Tikrit demo and added three songs, including a great rendition of NAKED RAYGUN’s “Rat Patrol.” Planned Obsolescence demonstrates an honest band that just wants to be able to express itself, and play some POISON IDEA-influenced hardcore. This band shows a cohesive sound and leaves no ambiguity about their bleak worldview and nihilistic tendencies. As abrasive as it is captivating.

Shop Regulars Shop Regulars LP

With seven self-released cassettes and six years behind them, Portland, Oregon’s SHOP REGULARS now put out their first LP. I hear vocals akin to the dourest moments of a STROKES song, and tricky rhythms that rattle on and on like White Light/White Heat-era VELVET UNDERGROUND. The latter comparison comes to mind with song length—at the shortest, “Off Season Walker” comes in at 2:22, while the B-side opens with the 11:09-long “Emerson Run Down” that jangles and ker-lumps along, dismissive of harmony, all the while lead-line side bars and quirks sun-flare over an uncompromised rhythm guitar and drum repetition that sounds like the dogma of the band: repeat, repeat, skew/deliver, repeat. Founder, guitarist, and vocalist Matt Radosevich fronts this experimental band, with drummer Patrick Barret being the only other constant since the group’s inception. Seven other musicians are credited in the notes, lending themselves (in a sound and structure) to the sort of freewheeling hippie punk thing of FAMILY FODDER. Comparisons aside, SHOP REGULARS have created their own mélange of art, oddball, electric, irreverent, and at times irksome music, in the best way possible. I’m feeling a little wobbly after so many listens, and to lift a line from the LP jacket, “it can happen to you.”

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.

Tension Pets Cubey CD

Six tracks of synth-accompanied punk from this Chicago band that nestles close to the DEVO tentpole of the egg-punk umbrella. These songs are fairly traditional in their careful and accomplished arrangements, not unlike the hook-laden garage punk of TEE VEE REPAIRMANN with added interlocking synth and guitar lines. Whereas some of this genre can head down a noisy, buzzing nerdcore path, TENSION PETS deliver melodic verse-chorus-verse songs with backing vocals and quick solos. The only slight exception is the near-hardcore stomping beat of “Mansion,” although it too is catchy. It’s all very accessible and likeable, if you don’t mind some sugar in your punk. Enter the heart-tugging “Magnolia (She’s Back),” a never-was new wave classic that sounds like the CARS in the best way. Had it come out in the ’80s, its sweet melodies and lost-love lyrics would have played in every car and over countless romcom movie trailers. Total melodic gem. Check it out if you like bands like CHERRY CHEEKS and have some romance hiding out in your jaded punk heart.

Ultra Lights Nostalgia / Clockin Out 7″

I was driving around with my wife the other day, listening to a playlist of my MRR review assignments, when this release came on. It followed up the latest album from FEN FEN, and the transition from tight, unhinged hardcore punk to languid power pop apparently got my wife’s attention, because she blurted out “What is this? It sounds like the STROKES.” She wasn’t wrong. The two tracks on this Atlanta four-piece’s debut don’t sound a million miles away from what you got on Is This It. Maybe mix that with an extremely sanitized version of the EXPLODING HEARTS, and you’ll probably get a good enough picture. In any event, it’s much less contrived-sounding than anything you’d associate with the indie sleaze set, and these are two genuinely catchy numbers. I don’t know that I’ll be dipping back into this, but I’d still be interested to see where they take things.

Waldo Faldo Nueva Especie Humana EP

Madrid-based histrionic new wave-y synth punkers filled with energy. This is their second piece of work, pinching up the synth influence in their music. Lyrics verse on new world order and biotechnology applied to humans, carrying such prospects to the table in tracks “Año 2033” and “Nueva Especie Humana.” Monotone clean vocals follow the drum machine but especially the synth lines mixed with keyboards, which tend to be addictive and create a great atmosphere for egg-punk lovers. All four tracks carry a similar intention, giving a feeling of passing through videogame levels in the same tones. Interesting enough, eager to hear more from them.

X Hate City EP

Hate City is a collection of previously unheard material from ’77-era X (not that X).  This is the band that Ian Rilen was in; he’s the guy that briefly played bass in ROSE TATTOO for a bit, having written one of the band’s earliest songs, “Bad Boy For Love.” Aside from X’s Aspirations LP, Hate City seems to be all from this period that is out there for these cats, and it’s near perfect in its sleaze and swagger. In another world, they could have been a drunker DEAD BOYS, who wouldn’t take themselves seriously and light a fart on fire for giggles. Kind of a cousin to PETER AND TEST TUBE BABIES? I don’t know…this is a limited run that Green Noise/Dirt Cult put out, buy one for your neighbor.

Yield to None Both Demos LP

A collection of a couple of demos from YIELD TO NONE on one LP. Sonically reminiscent of the hard streets of the Lower East Side in the 1980s, but they’re from Tampa, where I’ve never been. If squatter-era Harley Flanagan’s dog Lucifer had a band in the ’80s, it might have sounded like these vocals. For fans of OUTBURST and BREAKOUT.

V/A No Genocide: A Benefit for Mutual Aid in Gaza cassette

The brutal mistreatment of Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli government is not something that started in 2024. For decades, the people of Palestine have been on the receiving end of ruthless displacement, and as of October, that displacement accelerated to full-blown genocide. As we now live in the age of social media, these atrocities have been pushed to the forefront of our minds, as they should; these are real people being killed on a daily basis, with the death toll reaching approximately 39,000 with many more likely unaccounted for. It’s difficult to wrap your head around, especially as many of us live thousands of miles away from the conflict, seeing it streaming from our phones alongside our usual daily content. It’s surreal and soul-crushing in equal measure, and ultimately leads to the question: what can be done locally to show support for Palestinians whose lives are being systematically annihilated? Fortunately, I’m proud to say I’ve been able to find humanity and inspiration in the punk scene. From bands speaking out and displaying the Palestinian flag during shows, to printing “From the River to the Sea” in liner notes, it’s no surprise to know that the punk community cares (mostly, there are always shitty exceptions). In addition to the aforementioned instances, over the past ten months there have been a plethora of pro-Palestinian comps released featuring countless bands proudly throwing their support behind the cause. One of the first on my radar was No Genocide, a cassette put together by the DISSIDENTS from Philly and featuring a variety of punks offering something for everyone. Every track here is a heater, my favorites being the vicious “Rabid Dogs” by SCARECROW and RAT CAGE’s excellent cover of the VARUKERS’ “Another Religion Another War.” If the raw punk stuff isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of post-punk, anarcho, and hardcore to be enjoyed as well. Regardless of taste, head over to the Bandcamp and download, donate, share, and support. Thank you to the DISSIDENTS and all of the bands involved here, thank you to all the punks standing up and giving a voice to those who don’t have one, and thank you to anyone who has contributed to the Palestinian cause. Free Gaza, Free Palestine!

208 Possession EP

On paper, 208 is a noisy guitar-and-drums garage punk duo out of Detroit. But it’s best not to go into this release with that as your primary frame of reference. You’d likely come out the other side thinking it sounds like an unlistenable mess. Because it is…sort of. The production sounds like someone held a cheap microcassette recorder up to a boombox with blown-out speakers blasting one of PUSSY GALORE’s lowest-fidelity songs. It’s extreme. It wasn’t until I got to the record’s instrumental title track that I think I finally got things. I’d zoned out while it was on, to the point of forgetting what I was listening to. When I snapped back into focus, all of a sudden it sounded like I was inside the engine of some rusty steam engine, barrelling through some industrial hellscape. So, being able to recontextualize this as something closer to a pure noise project, maybe something like CHROME meets the DEAD C meets Metal Machine Music, I was able to get into it a little. Not sure if that was their intention. In any event, I think I’m OK with this now. I’m really curious to see how this would translate live.

Aliento De Perro Más de 30 Años… LP

Villa Rosa’s group of four that’s been around for decades in the Argentinian punk rock scene delivers nine tracks of well-executed, mid-paced classic punk rock in less than sixteen minutes—anthemic and deeply felt, bursting with passion, existentialism, and love adventures, with a twist of nihilistic, gloomier humor and views. Punk rock poetry lessons from the barrio with uplifting but also laconic, melancholic features between the lyrics and music, as the whole album is a progression through feelings, experiences, and situations from touring, lovelife, and the regular course of living. The band replicates highly energetic live gigs with a deep connection with the audience, anthemic palm-muting, and sing-along encores, exuding attitude and feeling that creates a great atmosphere. Favorite tracks: “Antisocial,” “Montevideo Me Dicem” and “Nada de Nada.” Go pogo with them, highly recommended.

Bad Motivator Bad Motivator cassette

Three thrashy garage noise psych tracts that sound like something In The Red would have put out in the early ’00s. I was initially thinking this was the glam-adjacent band BAD MOTIVATOR from Spokane, but this outfit is from Los Angeles and only has a few releases out, leaving me excited for a full-length sometime in the future. Guitar-driven tunes with just the right keyboard accents in the vein of USELESS EATERS and GOGGS. Party tunes for deranged misanthropes.

Contracharge Est 2023 CD

Now, there are only two options when you are confronted with a band that has the word “charge” in their moniker. They either have a plan to go on a pilgrimage to sunny Stoke-on-Trent in order to take pictures of the famous chimneys, or they haven’t listened to a single punk band since the SEX PISTOLS. Of course, CONTRACHARGE belongs to the first category, as this Chicago band plays D-beat hardcore (duh). This CD includes their first three digital EPs, Clutching Keys, Dead Weight, and The Tower, that were all recorded in the past twelve months. I make no secret of my love for the D, and for unoriginal hardcore punk music done well in general. D-beat is a deceptively easy genre, but, as my punk sensei used to teach me, “simple is difficult.” CONTRACHARGE takes the more rocking approach to D-beat hardcore (sometimes too much) rather than the straightforward, orthodox path. The sound is raw and the songs have a “live in our practice space” feel, and it does get a little sloppy in places which I don’t mind for the genre, but don’t expect anything too fancy production-wise as they are clearly a young band having a go. I love the hoarse, aggressive vocals, and some riffs point to Scandicrust bands like UNCURBED or CONSUME (especially on the last recording) which I would say is the way to go, and on the whole it does the job well. I’ll be keeping an eye on CONTRACHARGE.

Crepuscular Dawn The Fire Tomorrow LP

Post-punk of the heavy-to-soft exploration variety, out of Manila. I had to look up the word “crepuscular,” and it’s not remotely what I thought it meant. CREPUSCULAR DAWN has vocals that range from a little bit of DANZIG mixed with Jaz Coleman to a swoon like MORRISSEY. Guitars build and shift dramatically on this album when given the chance. The song “Pilgrim” is my current favorite, with its hook of proverbial wisdom. If you’re into dark post-punk with a tendency towards a heavier vibe, then absolutely check this LP out.

De Rodillas Implacable EP

Five hard-charging hardcore tunes, coming to you from the punkest city in the USA: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. DE RODILLAS dispense with the pleasantries and set directly into the bone-breaking and ear-splitting. I got to catch their citymates PEACE TALKS recently, and this is cooking with a similar spice, which is to say that the heat is cranked way up. These tracks are nearly combustible, ramping up the tension from one song to the next until the closing cut “Quiero Ser Buena,” which slows things down a touch and introduces some melody to the vocal delivery. There’s not a lot of window-dressing or ornamentation on this EP. It’s lean and to-the-point, with a strong undercurrent of UK82 nastiness. Four-chord, pogo-worthy, pissed-off punk. What more do ya really need?

DMZ Lift Up Your Hood EP reissue

DMZ was part of the thriving late ’70s garage punk scene along with bands like the REAL KIDS and the LYRES. The band also included members who played or would play in the LYRES, the MODERN LOVERS, the CARS, BARRENCE WHITFIELD AND THE SAVAGES, the QUEERS, and more. This record gives us hard-hitting garage rock just a little before a punk influence really started to push its way to the forefront. At this stage of their career, they really remind me of the 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS. Perhaps that is because they both did great versions of “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” but it goes beyond just that song. Real-deal garage rock from 1977. Very nice.

Glitter Litter Shocks to the Sleeping Beauties CD

I like glitter. And I like litter, like kitty litter. And I love Spain. I feel like I’m jinxing myself here. Yes and no, as it turns out. If you’re looking for something that’s going to change your world, I’m not sure this is it. But if you’re a fan of old school, melodic punk rock and want to put on something new, this could be your ticket. So, for me, it’s good, but not great. Separately, I wish I understood the draw of publishing your record on YouTube. It’s a head-scratcher for me.

Hög True Romance EP

Damn, this EP kicks a whole lot of ass. Heavy-hitting, organ-laden rock’n’roll outta New Zealand that would fit right in with all of those Confederacy of Scum bands like HELLSTOMPER, RANCID VAT, and ANTISEEN. Also has a BLUE ÖYSTER CULT vibe, which might not be the type of band you’d want to cop to in an MRR review, but I can never say no to that type of energy. Pretty decent production here, while maintaining that raw edge you’d expect from a band called HÖG. Lovely work.

Käräjät Maailman Onnellisin Kansa EP

KÄRÄJÄT is a ugly Finnish noisecore band that follows the classic audio terrorist footsteps of SORE THROAT. Short blasts of what sounds like a desk being used as a drum kit in, noise-driven punk, accompanied by chaotic riffing and throat-damaging screamed vocals. The “songs” are really, really short, in the good fashion of noisecore, and go for full intensity. As per tradition, these types of bands focus more on making people feel disgusted than on musi, per se, so Maailman Onnellisin Kansa (“Happiest Nation in the World”) is more of a critique of Finland set to a soundtrack of hellish noise.

Lika Blame Game cassette

An insular, moody powerhouse, Blame Game is for those who love Finnish punk music’s gloomy yet exciting nature. LIKA lays out the album with a “come and see” eclectic attitude, treating the listener to a medley of noise, screaming, and fun. Each song has its flair, such as the almost gothic guitar in “Monkey Money” escalating to a fast-paced riot, then back again into the depths. The album is hyphenated by a mix of Finnish and English lyrics, the vocalist using her great, compelling voice for a range of singing or screaming “mad boy!” The drums and bass offer a great heavy-blanketed backdrop to her raving in songs like “Komero” and “Whatcha Gonna Do?” Ending off the adventure, LIKA uses “Last Page 23” to divulge into a weird and wonderfully experimental sound, reminiscent of BJÖRK. Being LIKA’s third self-released album, Blame Game is a nice break from traditional sounds.

Merked Good Night cassette

Latest release by Oakland grindcore trio MERKED. CARCASS/NAPALM DEATH-style grindcore, but also reminds me a bit of a less crusty version of pre-DYSTOPIA death/grind band CARCINOGEN. Heavy yet intense short bursts of sickened energy. No piccolo snare or slam parts here, to which punks can better relate.

N.E.O. N.E.O. 12″

Hailing from the frigid northern reaches of Finland, N.E.O. channels the raw, untamed spirit of being punk into a musical maelstrom that’s both exhilarating and cathartic. Their blistering guitar riffs, thunderous rhythms, and relentless vocal delivery (which is something that is very much a Finnish punk signature) coalesce into an uncompromising sonic assault. I don’t understand Finnish, but singer Jossu sounds pissed-off as hell! Recorded by Ville Valavuo from KOHTI TUHOA and YLEISET SYYT, one might even draw some comparisons between N.E.O. and these bands. A defiant middle finger to the ears, and a testament to unadulterated hardcore. Expect mosh pits erupting and fists pumping.

Peace Decay Peace Decay LP

On their debut LP, Austin’s PEACE DECAY infuses their ass-kicking burly hardcore with a hefty dose of metal power. The howling guitars and adventurous melodies might remind you of classic NWOBHM bands, but there’s a core element of punk pounding throughout these ten tracks that keeps the album grounded in a down-and-dirty energy. On their previous EP, the band was sketching furiously, and now they’re painting, including an actual gnarly neon painting by the singer on the album cover.

The Plane Crash Nostalgia for the Gutter CD

This record kicks off with a classic blues riff and I held my breath as I waited for more hallmark Americana sounds. But instead, they pivoted into power pop, and for that, I thank the pilots of the PLANE CRASH! The rest of it kinda plods along with a garage-y lo-fi sound reminiscent of the VIBRATORS, though also carrying the rock’n’roll through with CHUCK BERRY-like solos. But hang on a second, the song “Nothing on My Mind” is a screwball, out of left field (to extend the baseball metaphor, ‘tis the season)—DEAD MILKMEN and the GROOVIE GHOULIES come to mind at the same time. Then we go right back into JOHNNY THUNDERS raucousness, only to be met with a DEAD KENNEDYS homage with the song “Killing Fields.” Overall, the record lacks a homogeny. Now before you come for me, I mean the songs are all under the same umbrella, but that umbrella has holes in it and isn’t consistent in keeping things dry. I think all the songs are absolute bangers, out of sequence as I may think they are. I have a feeling that this is a newer band, and if they’re still finding their groove, I’d say they’ve got a super solid footing already.

Qiik Qiik demo cassette

Fast, pummeling hardcore punk from Honolulu, Hawaii. A demo living up to how I imagine their band name is pronounced, cramming all eight songs into a mere three minutes and twelve seconds, with the longest track on the demo clocking in at a whopping forty seconds. QIIK stomps through song after song, barely giving you enough time to comprehend what just transpired before clicking immediately into the next track. The physical cassette is somewhat hard to follow along with, as the tracks are recorded on a loop with each side not necessarily starting with the first track. Nobody is manning the rolley-coaster, so buckle in, turn it on, and enjoy the ride complete with bonus laps.

River City Rejects / Triangle Fire HFY Split Series, Vol. 1 cassette

Split effort with four tracks per band. Nebraska’s RIVER CITY REJECTS execute classic hardcore punk flirting with anthemic street punk, fierce, fast-paced, and straight-to-the-point with a twist of irony, and even some palm-muting trances to continue the fast drum beats. Live vibes all around on “Blacklisted,” filled with angry vocals that remind me of GG ALLIN from time to time. On the B-side, there’s Georgia’s TRIANGLE FIRE delivering some kind of crust powerviolence with faster blastbeats and high-pitched, doomy vocals, and then some fast-paced classic hardcore punk with a formula of singing to the beat. Depending on the track, it gives a feeling of some crazy crossover—sometimes it is a demon from hell, and sometimes it is Beki Bondage from VICE SQUAD. Perhaps too much of a mixed cocktail on this side.

Small Doses Small Doses LP

Debut LP from Asheville, NC-based SMALL DOSES. Seeing Asheville on their Bandcamp page, I assumed I was going to get some peace punk or zany hippie-cult thing, but rather found something closer to the turn-of-the-century RVA sound; ANN BERETTA comes to mind. Founders Matt and John, formerly of DAWN OF THE DUDE and OFF WITH THEIR HEADS, reunited after a 30-year hiatus, coming together with bassist Crystal of ZOMBIE QUEEN to form this powerful trio. Pretty straightforward punk/post-hardcore at work, with lots of palm mutes, pinch harmonics, bass that’s hooked into tom-pounding drums, and higher-register, near-gruff vocals. It feels like SMALL DOSES would be right at home on any of the early Warped Tour bills. Solid eight-track debut, with writing already started on their next album.

Snow Trail Abandoned Capsule LP

From Jena, Germany comes SNOW TRAIL: synth-laden post-punk with a punk rock sneer. If you’re into HOME FRONT or DIÄT, you’ll definitely like this. Abandoned Capsule is full of lengthy jam moments that rapidly shift and churn, but are completed as quickly as they started. Elements of no wave creep in around the edges, with saxophones occasionally making an abstract appearance. There’s also an element of PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED. in the experimental play with recording techniques and instrumentation. In all, probably not for the diehard punks, but definitely worth picking up if you’re into post-punk.

The Stench The Stench LP reissue

From the vaults, mostly unabashed ’90s pop punk. They occasionally add in some quasi-thrash metal guitars, but there’s no need to split hairs here. The band hits all the expected notes: power chords and palm mutes, treble-heavy bass, and adolescent longing. The vocals are a snotty whine. It all would have been right at home on Lookout! Records. Who knows, maybe it was!

Walled City World Pain LP

A combination of late ’90s melodic hardcore like LIFETIME and KID DYNAMITE mashed with vocals that can only be described as blackened crust; as if DARKTHRONE started catering to the No Idea crowd. The vocals are absolutely brutal in the best way possible. Energetic, passionate, and heavy. The music sounds like prog-punk. Blisteringly fast at times, while also showcasing some maximum harmonic riffage. It’s like K.K. Downing joined up with the NONE MORE BLACK crew. This is really great stuff and well worth a spin.

V/A Uncivil Disobedience, Vol. 1 cassette

A cassette compilation from Bellicose Records, Uncivil Disobedience brings a who’s-who of crazy Florida hardcore bands together in support of the Atlanta Solidarity Fund. Proceeds will help to oppose a current proposal that would tear down a bunch of forest land in order to build a massive new police training facility in Atlanta. And it’s a ripper, packed with gems like ARMOR’s pummeling ANTI-CIMEX cover, a new tune from the formidable SQUEEZE USA, and a searing medley from Jacksonville-based sonic terrorists SOURPUSS. In addition to its worthwhile purpose, this tape provides a good overview of current scenes in the sunshine state and a happy slap on the ass for anyone who likes hard punk.

ADD/C Ordinary Souls LP

Awesome high-energy, lo-fi punk from Chattanooga by members of FUTURE VIRGINS, SQUISHERS, and SAVAGE WEEKEND. Anthemic, heart-on-sleeve, fuzzed-out tracts in the spirit of SEXY and BENT OUTTA SHAPE that keep the optimism of pushing through life in a shitty world, because really what else can you do but make your art? Lyrically, some early SPRINGSTEEN and REPLACEMENTS-inspired tales to keep your head above water in bleak times.

Alarm! Alarm! LP

ALARM! is from Stockholm, Sweden and features members of VICTIMS and OUTLAST. I hear some classic Swedish hardcore, but not just that—I also hear some burly American style in there, such as some POISON IDEA vibes. Thick guitar, powerful bass and drumming, with intense vocals. At times, it also reminds me of LOS CRUDOS on their earliest records. Despite my comparisons, their sound is uniquely their own. They venture into territories most hardcore bands don’t, and they aren’t afraid to do their own thing. A great record by people who have been around for a while.

Broken Barcodes Nothing Groundbreaking Here LP

The biggest crime of this record is that it’s boring. I have a feeling, based on their album title, that they are aware. Everything about this is amateurish. That first song’s drumming is atrocious. Anyways, this is the latest occurrence of scraping the bottom of the “punk nostalgia” barrel. Did you or someone you know listen to bands like the QUEERS, SCREECHING WEASEL, and…OK, everyone stop. Hang on a second. They have a song called “January 6 (The Most Idiotic Day in Modern American History).” It’s also bad, but what a title! The pacing is boring and the lyrics are pretty cringe. I feel I need to break it to you that romanticized pop punk is not the best venue to recruit political activists. And in the very next song, you sing about how your girl gets “five stars from your heart.” It’s super tone-deaf. Thanks for being on the right side of history, but, like, make a PROPAGANDHI-worship band instead. Based on their Bandcamp description, they are not taking this very seriously: “Three neighborhood dads in need of a hobby, united united in a quest to fend off boredom, attain unfulfilled juvenile dreams, and make use of those dusty instruments, all while trying not to piss off the neighbors.” Also, by the way, the drumming starts to suck again on “I Don’t Sleep a Lot.” No thanks.

Burning Realm Burning Realm cassette

Punks, from the wider Dublin scene in this case, playing what could reasonably be called stoner rock, but keeping enough of their god-given punkness in the mix to maintain the flow of blood. BURNING REALM is a three-piece with two guitarists and no bass player, which doesn’t necessarily translate to there being no bottom end on this four-song debut tape—“From Beyond,” for example, has some heft to its psych/alt/doom chug, and comes off like a cross between TORCHE, JANE’S ADDICTION, and RUDIMENTARY PENI circa Archaic. That hybrid is likely not for everyone reading, but they make it work whatever you think. “Warped One (Arise)” is the EP’s speediest number from its sweet, THIN LIZZY-doused axe intro onwards.

Canal Irreal Someone Else’s Dance LP

Singer Martin Sorrondeguy has achieved legendary status in the American punk scene. He sang about the issues immigrants faced living in the USA in LOS CRUDOS, made Beyond The Screams: A US Latino Hardcore Punk Documentary, fronted straightedge queercore band LIMP WRIST, perfected the craft of photographing punk shows, and is overall a major influence for steering punk in the right direction. CANAL IRREAL is his newest project alongside friends from SIN ORDEN, COLD LOVERS, and CARDIAC ARREST, and they are already on their second full-length through Beach Impediment. It mixes all that we love about hardcore (the fast tempos, the gritty instrumentation, the raspy vocals), but it’s a post-punk band, essentially. Someone Else’s Dance flows easily in 30 minutes, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. A great record from start to finish, and it will appease the followers of Martin’s work and gather a lot of new fans.

Cicada Something Else flexi EP

For the first time since 1803, two distinct broods of periodical cicadas emerged during the same season this year. Trillions of these noisy bugs dotted the Midwest and Southeast US over the past couple of months, emitting a maddening, high-pitched buzz while engaging in a mating frenzy before littering landscapes with their discarded carcasses—a shameful, disgusting, and carnal affair. As it turns out, a third horde of nasty CICADA has been discovered, and it’s these ripping gents from Richmond. With haggard growls commanding whipping fits of catchy, menacing hardcore, this flexi presents three snappy tracks in less than four minutes. With any luck, we’ll hear more of this much sooner than the next expected invasion of the band’s namesake pests (they won’t be back until 2037).

Dandelion Adventure John Peel Session LP

DANDELION ADVENTURE was a late ’80s UK band whose members went on to a host of significant endeavors (bands like DONKEY, the COMMON COLD, and STRETCHHEADS, labels like Pumf). DANDELION ADVENTURE put out a couple of great, overlooked records with songs that smile at you sideways with an infectious glee, as if the band is just as surprised as you that this spastic chaos actually makes some kinda sense. In 1990, they had the honor of recording a session at Maida Vale for John Peel’s radio show. Excited young lads that they were, they wrote four new songs for the occasion. Decades later, bassist Ajay Saggar revives his Wormer Bros. label to pair up these never-released tracks with their 1988 demo and some rehearsal takes. No surprise that the Peel Session sounds fantastic, showcasing the pinging logic that DANDELION ADVENTURE channeled like lab rats fed methamphetamine and let loose in a maze. Bursting out of the gate like the FALL after a good night’s rest, “Exit Frenzy Revisited” leads into “Bing Crosby’s Cathedral,” which starts like a consumerist daydream before tearing up the receipts and unleashing something like SONIC YOUTH trying to cover the MAGIC BAND. “Don’t Look Now” is chock full of the manic yet groovy rhythmic tussle that the bands on the Ron Johnson label excelled at, with nice, echoey vocals to let some air in. “All The World’s a Lounge” feeds an array of TV-tapped samples into DANDELION ADVENTURE’s avant-punk mulcher. The demo tape gives some early looks at tracks that later ended up on wax. While you’re definitely going to want to hear the studio version of “King Burger Autopsy,” the fairly straightforward punk of “Chickenfeed” sounds particularly great here.