Reviews

Mama Goblin

Nine-Eleven Fuck You Bomb Me cassette

Unlike fentanyl, drum and bass duos—not to be confused with drum’n’bass—never go out of style. With their unapologetically angry and straightforward breed of powerviolence, NINE ELEVEN sneaks up on you in a dark alley and beats the shit out of you to prove a point: it is possible to convey ungodly aggression with such a compact lineup. All six songs on this six-minute EP are structured around a freight train of a bass that crushes everything in its path, and ruthless drums that repeatedly slam you on the head with the pingiest snare ever. But it’s the pissed-off dual vocals and the occasional mindless goregrind gutturals that seals the deal for me. Fuck You Bomb Me is a great debut that I was listening to daily way before it ended up in my review bin, and it looks like it will stay that way in the foreseeable future.

Perverts Again The New Man LP

With their latest LP, Ohio’s PERVERTS AGAIN carry the torch of URANIUM CLUB’s charismatic humor and SKULL CULT’s contagious quirkiness. Sizzling, fuzzy guitars and gnarly, overdriven bass come together around solid drum grooves to make up a hypnotizingly repetitive, lovably playful and delightfully lo-fi record. With the memorable hooks, mischievous backing vocals, and fun lyricism that The New Man offers, I can guarantee that you’ll have a hard time getting this album out of your head. Well, don’t quote me on that, though—maybe you don’t like fun as much as PERVERTS AGAIN do.

Giglinger Shrapnel EP

Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, GIGLINGER makes the kind of hardcore punk that isn’t conservative when it comes to incorporating influences from outside the genre. Their four-song EP Shrapnel displays that very clearly. With vocals that sound like they’re coming out of a megaphone, a strong rhythm section, ear-candy guitar layers, and sudden changes in song structure, you can tell that they have a unique vision to create their own sound. My only complaint—and I can’t believe I’m the one saying this—is that this EP is too short. Like, annoyingly short. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really good and it left me wanting more, but all this pent-up frustration is killing me. Maybe that’s just me, though. If you’re on the run and the original versions of those two songs are way too long for your personal taste, you’re in luck—the band kindly included shorter versions on the B-side. You know, some people (like a band I know called GIGLINGER) are busy making cool music and don’t have the time to listen to a four-minute single.

Tojo Yamamoto 山本東条 10″

Named after a legendary wrestler, Kentucky’s TOJO YAMAMOTO welcomes you to a world of body slams, headlocks, and, uh…karate chops? Okay, you got me. I don’t know shit about wrestling. But if it’s as fun and engaging as this record is, I’m more than willing to give it a try. Because this whole thing sounds like a demolition derby of speaker-blowing guitars, earth-shattering bass, and slamming drums. And on top of all that wreckage, a super-energetic singer—who sounds like he might explode at any moment— is doing his victory pose for the bloodthirsty masses. If you’re a fan of gnarly riffs, synthy Velcro fuzz, and controlled chaos, the self-titled 10″ from TOJO YAMAMOTO is the perfect way to spend fifteen minutes.

Rare Spam Double Pleasure cassette

Montreal art-punks RARE SPAM’s Double Pleasure was a breath of fresh air for me. Why? Because it’s not your average “guitar album”—it’s an album in which all instruments are beautifully woven together to create a surreal tapestry. Yes, jangly and seasick guitars play a crucial role in setting the mood, but it is never to a degree that they dominate everything. The bass delivers incredibly catchy, laidback bass lines and gets bonus points from me for its mastery in the lost art of experimenting with effects on the old four-string. The drums are definitely a big part of the sound as well. Sometimes layered with drum machines, sometimes oozing with dry vintage mojo, but always, always unbelievably groovy while being minimal and modest. To top off all that, the vocals are effortlessly cool in their delivery of memorable hooks and nonchalant lyrics. Some might call it psychedelic with the way they incorporate effects, fluid tempos, and interesting soundscapes, but to assume it’s your stereotypical, run-of-the-mill psych rock would be a huge mistake.

Aufruhr Zur Liebe 3 x 3 = Nein LP

According to the label’s bio—which is the source of everything I know about this release— AUFRUHR ZUR LIEBE was only active from 1983 to 1986 in East Germany, and none of these recordings had been issued on vinyl or CD before. So, it’d be fair to say that listening to 3 x 3 = Nein feels like opening up a time capsule from an ancient, isolated civilization. Upon hearing the hypnotizing, shamanistic atmosphere of the first two tracks, I was ready to buckle up for an hour of dissociating in minimal synth soundscapes. But all of a sudden, it threw me a solid curveball with a shift to a more guitar-heavy post-punk sound. Then another with abrasive, cathartic no wave with the help of some saxophones, then another with more conventional rock’n’roll…but I don’t think the lack of coherence in sound is a big deal, considering the fact that the label stayed true to the original track lists on this compilation album. If anything, it’s a very unique and intimate experience to listen to a band lost in time, experimenting to find its voice in a different era, in a different place.

Propad Žrtve Modernega Časa EP

Oozing with DESPISE YOU influence in both sound and artwork, PROPAD’s second release Žrtve Modernega Časa goes to show that powerviolence is alive and well and living in Slovenia. It starts off with a sound collage of Oppenheimer’s iconic “I am become death” speech and news snippets on the Gaza genocide and Russia-Ukraine war layered over slow, sludgy riffs. Then, it’s all crushing guitars, hammering drums, and throat-ripping vocals attacking you from all sides, as you should expect. The last and longest song on the EP begins with the same relentless fury as the majority of songs, but it takes a sharp turn into their dark and gloomy side that you got a taste of at the very start. I must admit, the fact that they chose to end the record with Ulysses’ final message from Fallout: New Vegas convinced me that I am their exact target audience. Well, I am. Sign me up.

Pantano Es Dificil Escapar El Culto EP

I find a specific kind of joy in listening to music that has punk in its roots but doesn’t necessarily sound like punk. Mexico City’s PANTANO surely falls into this category. It has punk in its DNA, but it’s definitely not where it starts or ends. Chanting vocals, simple but captivating synths, and playful rhythms loosely remind me of the industrial milestone 20 Jazz Funk Greats—minus the eerie, noisy elements— but along with that, there is a freezing coldwave atmosphere that is present throughout the record. Es Dificil Escapar El Culto was an interesting EP, and I’m definitely keen to hear how far they will evolve their unique sound.

EKGs EKGs cassette

Damn, these guys are pissed. Like, really pissed. I’ll tread carefully with this review, because I wouldn’t want to make enemies with Pittsburgh’s EKGS. Neither should you. Their 2025 self-titled cassette is an explosive display of uncontrollable rage condensed into twelve minutes of hearing damage. Relentless drums that are hell-bent on drawing blood, nasty guitar riffs drenched in ear-piercing feedback, growling bass with enough horsepower to back everything up, and one of my absolute favorite vocal performances in recent memory…this album truly has everything I want out of a hardcore release. But you know what it lacks? Anger-management. Nope, not a smidge of it to be found. This tape managed to amaze and intimidate me the way CHARLES BRONSON’s Youth Attack! did, inarguably changing the trajectory of my taste for pissed-off music. What else could I ever want?

Killer Couture Everything is Normal CD

Sacramento rivetheads KILLER COUTURE answer the question “What if Mick Gordon played guitar for SKINNY PUPPY?” with their 2024 album Everything is Normal. Extra down-tuned guitars, heavily processed vocals, harsh drum machine beats, cold synths, and a good amount of miscellaneous noise—from what I assume is a filthy garage full of rusty power tools—show that they’ve been carefully studying the works of their influences from various eras of industrial music. Although it’s modern in the way that it’s all put together, it feels like the sum of Hot Wired Monstertrux, with its stylistic nods to the giants of the genre. Al Jourgensen would be proud.

Pal Under Your Radar cassette

I’m a bit ashamed to say that I wasn’t familiar with the music of the Cleveland, Ohio four-piece PAL prior to Under Your Radar. But oh boy, I absolutely adore everything about this release. Throughout the EP, crunchy drums and tasteful bass lines lay down a very danceable foundation, while highly modulated guitar melodies and minimal synth licks keep a tight call-and-response dynamic that sounds like you’re listening to a playful yet heated argument. To top it all off, the lyricism and delivery of the vocals perfectly encapsulate the manic nature of the band’s very unique and quirky sound. Under Your Radar reminds me of C.C.T.V. and SPLLIT with its sonic palette, mannerisms, and upside-down approach to songwriting. Seems like PAL released this cassette directly to my 2025 year-end top ten. Just perfect—no notes.

The Hahas and The Blablas The Hahas and The Blablas LP

Zagreb, Croatia’s the HAHAS AND THE BLABLAS have been on my watch list ever since I came across the music video for their lead single on Tremendo Garaje. Even though it runs just under a minute, it was more than enough for me to fall in love with them. And now, about a year later, their self-titled LP is here to prove that they really are a force to be reckoned with. With bass taking the lead most of the time and toy-ish synthesizers playing the catchiest melodies you’ve ever heard, the guitar and drums take supporting roles and dutifully hold everything together like Super Glue. But to me, the expressive vocals and tongue-in-cheek lyricism are what makes this album extremely addictive. Slice-of-life themes of the album include, but are not limited to: frustration with bureaucracy, the myth of “fixing it in the mix,” wanting to marry Debbie Harry, and—though I have my doubts about this one—Andy Kaufman not being their dad. The whole thing is filled to the brim with childlike wonder, silly jokes, and hooks that are impossible not to sing along to. I’d argue that the HAHAS AND THE BLABLAS are the long-awaited spiritual successor to the B-52’S, but you wouldn’t believe me. So be it. Go ahead, give it a spin and weep!

Skull Cult Can You See What I Mean? EP

Let’s get something out of the way real quick. We all agree that this is the best album cover on this godforsaken planet, right? Yes? Good. From the epicenter of egg-punk (or weird punk, if you’re too cool for that), Indiana’s SKULL CULT has proved again and again that they mean business, and has been a staple in my personal hall of fame ever since I first heard of them. This year’s Can You See What I Mean? sounds like they’ve dialed down the weirdness a bit and leaned into the catchiness element. Don’t get me wrong, all the things that made SKULL CULT great in the first place are present throughout the EP. Blown-out guitars, hyperactive drums, sick bass lines, nice synth melodies, and batshit insane vocals are still front and center, just a bit more modest. To me, Can You See What I Mean? signals a slightly new direction for the band, one that I’m curious to see where it leads.

NTSC PAL Full of Spots cassette

Sometimes you don’t really need much to make kickass music. You don’t need intricate songwriting, a full band of virtuosos, crystal clear production, or lyrics that give Shakespeare a run for his money. I mean, wasn’t this the whole premise of punk rock in its early days? You just need the attitude, style and intent. It really can be as simple as “Here are three chords, go start a band,” and you don’t even need to start a band nowadays. Melbourne’s egg-punk powerhouse BILLIAM knows this by heart and proves it once again in his new no-strings solo affair, NTSC PAL’s first EP Full of Spots. It’s very stripped-down: just synths, drums and vocals, à la the SCREAMERS (duh). Even though we all know that BILLIAM is more than capable of coming up with billiams of sick guitar riffs in a heartbeat, he makes the conscious decision not to by leaving out guitars all together and focusing on simple earworm synth melodies this time around. I don’t know about you, but I think there’s something magical in something so simple and barebones. Though technically not a BILLIAM release, NTSC PAL’s Full of Spots is my favorite entry to the BILLIAM-verse to date.

Scooter Jay Punk Floyd and the Moral Faggots LP

If it wasn’t clear from the title, Toronto three-piece SCOOTER JAY’s 2024 LP Punk Floyd and the Moral Faggots is an album that blends a very well-defined ’70s psychedelic rock sound with power pop sensibilities and undeniable punk attitude. Although the majority of the album is high-energy, it’s not just fast and loose rock’n’roll. There are some tracks that let you breathe, some that make you bob your head, and some that make you dance around your room. Everything sounds structured and ordered purposefully in a way that it doesn’t get boring at any point. Throughout the album, layers upon layers upon layers of sometimes raw and razor-sharp, sometimes acid-laced and surreal guitar tracks take the lead. With the help of tightly locked drums and bass, occasional keys, and expressive yet nonchalant vocals, the album takes its ultimate groovy form. The overall production of the LP sounds very traditionally early psych in some ways, but also novel when it comes to adding new dimensions to its sonic landscape. Though this LP was my introduction to SCOOTER JAY, I’m genuinely and totally blown away!

Extortion Threats EP

Australian powerviolence legends EXTORTION have once again blessed us with another tough-as-nails, full-throttle fastcore release. Actually, calling it fastcore wouldn’t do it justice. It should also be called tight-core, considering how unbelievably well-performed it is. As you finish the first song, which is just sixteen seconds long, you think to yourself “Whew, that was crazy. Surely it will slow down at some point!” Then guess what? You get sucker-punched into oblivion over and over by fifteen songs in a grand total of eight minutes. Every millisecond of Threats is jam-packed with raw, unadulterated aggression. The kind that you miss the moment you blink. It was one of my favorite releases of 2024 and after giving it about a hundred more listens, I’m happy to say that it absolutely still is.

Sprgrs EP1 cassette

There is no doubt that Barcelona trailblazers PRISON AFFAIR changed the trajectory of egg-punk with their unique take on the sound, becoming everyone’s favorite band at some point. But they’re by no means all that the rich Spanish scene has to offer. Granada/Jaén band SPRGRS manages to scratch that same itch and put themselves on the map with their 2023 debut EP1. It’s wobbly, it’s quirky, and it’s delightfully lo-fi. Seasick guitar melodies drenched in vibrato are perfectly accompanied by tasteful bass lines. While they take turns under the spotlight, they are always in lockstep thanks to the simple yet punchy electronic drums keeping the groove going at all times. Vocals are relatively deadpan throughout the EP and provide a nice juxtaposition to the dancy and quirky nature of their music. The EP’s runtime is around nine minutes, so you really can’t go wrong with it. And if you’re already a fan of the genre, chances are you’ll love it.

Titanium Exposé Disorders cassette

Hailing from the Netherlands, TITANIUM EXPOSÉ offers a high-voltage synth punk experience with their debut Disorders. Deranged garage riffs with moments of rockabilly lead the charge, but the star of the show is without a doubt the earworm synth lines that cut through every other instrument and establish their dominance throughout six songs. Vocals drowned in reverb make room for the crazy instrumentation of the songs by providing emphasis without trying to be too in-your-face. Drums are super crunchy and energetic, just the way I like ‘em. Honestly, TITANIUM EXPOSÉ’s Disorders sounds like the lovechild of the CONEHEADS and DIODE, and I’m totally here for it.

Ismatic Guru An Incredible Amount of Overwhelming Information LP

Buffalo’s ISMATIC GURU is truly a unique duo. Yes, they’re regarded as egg-punk and yes, egg-punk itself is a diverse genre where two bands rarely resemble each other. But even in this ocean of bizarre sounds, they manage to stand out. Covering all their previous work plus five brand new songs, their latest release An Incredible Amount of Overwhelming Information is the full package and the ultimate testimony to their eccentricity. With guitars alternating between rhythmic stabs and demented single-note lines, bass laying down jittery grooves, drums providing a steady backbone, organs adding another layer of manic melodic content while the vocals ramble on and on with such dynamic delivery, the overall sound is an even further abstraction of post-punk and full of nods to the iconic sounds of both no wave and new wave. I really appreciate their minimal, almost fully DI-sounding signature production style that makes the duo’s immense songwriting skills shine further. There is nothing quite like ISMATIC GURU, and there is no better way to immerse yourself in their work than An Incredible Amount of Overwhelming Information.