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!

Alpha Sub Alpha Sub CD

The start of this is frantic and catchy not unlike the DWARVES, and snotty like the VINDICTIVES. Some of the songs walk the line between charming, funny, and dumb. I really couldn’t find any info on the band. I even tried to search what I imagine is their most famous local songs, “Two Handed Piss” and “Stepdad Goatee,” but nothing came up. Their song titled “Fuck the Police” takes on a double meaning with lyrics about bad cops sung to the tune of “Every Breath You Take” by the POLICE. This record is meat-and-potatoes punk that falls somewhere between reliable and consistent. There are eleven songs on this CD that are waiting for you to have a round.

Apparition Verbrauch cassette

APPARITION plays a form of hardcore that draws heavy inspiration from Italian hardcore bands like DECLINO or INDIGESTI, so think chaotic song structures. The Verbrauch cassette was released late in 2024 and features a raw, lo-fi production which lends a liveness to the six songs contained. Pure feedback harnessed as guitar solos, seemingly endless bass runs, and a thrashing whirlwind of drums are combined and support The German vocals have the feeling of a revolutionary with a bullhorn during a riot. The closing track “Leer Abgelassen” is a chugging, gloom-ridden opus and provides a succinct wrap on the spectacle. If you liked HELLSCAPE’s release last year, then you’ll definitely be into APPARITION.

Brix! Fucked If I Know CD

Second release from Texan punks BRIX!, whose brand of hardcore has a definite rock’n’roll underbelly (as evidenced by the inclusion of the riff from “Back in Black” by AC/DC on their previous release). On Fucked If I Know, there aren’t any classic rock covers to be heard, but on tracks like the excellent “Skunk,” the band leans into some Motörpunk/late ANTI-CIMEX vibes that I hope they continue to incorporate.

The Brood For the Dark LP

Long-awaited LP from Philly punk stalwarts. I had this on my 2024 year-end top ten, as it was released right at the tail end of last year. It’s just a monster of an album, a true behemoth. Absolutely crushing, take-no-prisoners punk that sweeps across a spectrum of influences while remaining cohesive and focused. Elements of Scandinavian hardcore, D-beat, and UK82 are present, but the amalgam is a beast unto itself. This band has an insane pedigree, featuring members of WITCH HUNT, MISCHIEF BREW, ENDLESS NIGHTMARE, and the PIST, just to name a few. Fine folks playing crushing hardcore punk. It just doesn’t get much better. I can’t recommend this enough.

Cult Crime Cult Crime LP

CULT CRIME’s self-titled album—courtesy of the nothing-but-consistent Ugly Pop Records—is a fantastic crop of snotty, ’80s-inspired rockin’ punk. “Nervous Breakdown” came to mind by the time the fantastic track “Suburban Violence” came around, and that energy seems a more than apt comparison here. CULT CRIME is creating hard-hitting sounds that demand your attention, but you can also tell that they’re probably having a great time doing it and aren’t afraid to get a little tongue-in-cheek (“Nuke Hollywood”). Speaking of BLACK FLAG, are the punk sounds coming out of Vancouver and Toronto the modern equivalent of ’80s L.A. and NYC? Is there a friendly rivalry between the Canadian coasts? Can PACK RAT ever miss? Do any of these people even work at a Häagen-Dazs? Anyway, this album rips.

Death Certificate Death Certificate cassette

The self-titled cassette from Long Island powerviolence quartet DEATH CERTIFICATE rips through eleven tracks—most under a minute—with reckless speed. The recording quality is solid. The band is fucking locked in, and Matt Viel’s vocals bring to mind a slightly less unhinged Andy Beattie from LACK OF INTEREST. These guys would’ve fit right in on the Slap-a-Ham roster in the ’90s, which gets them a huge thumbs-up from me. Members have also played in C.R., DEADGUY, GOSPEL, HELEN OF TROY, KILL YOUR IDOLS, SHEER TERROR, and a hundred other bands. Viel runs the photo zine Windows Down, and all Bandcamp proceeds go to a charity that supports abortion access—putting their money where their rage is. It’s fast, furious, and full of purpose.

Dishumanitär Dishumanitär LP

DISHUMANITÄR is a three-piece crustcore band from Karlstad, Sweden. This self-titled LP is their first proper release, and if you’re into crust and stenchcore then you’ll definitely want to find a copy of this album. The opening evokes immediate memories of NUX VOMICA, especially in the slower, dirge-like parts, and there are also very technical moments that are reminiscent of AGE OF COLLAPSE. Vocalist Hannah absolutely shreds their vocal chords with every lyrical delivery, which provides a blackened quality. Relatively clean production on this ten-song album really lets the powerful instrumentation deliver a full sonic spectrum with pummeling bass and soaring guitars (check out “For What?” if you need clarification). With songs ranging in length from under two minutes to almost six, the Dishumanitär LP really runs the gambit between face-melting burners and plodding metallic jams. My personal thoughts: DISHUMANITÄR, hell yeah!

Eastfield Terminus 10″

EASTFIELD, so I’m told, have been “occupying the top slot in Rail Punk,” given as they are named after a rail depot—which I would say is factually incorrect in a universe when HYGIENE is still a very going concern—but undoubtedly they do love their trains, and this release chugs along pleasantly. While this definitely does fit nicely into an “old bloke punk” bucket, the sort of mid-afternoon slot at Rebellion Fest in hiking boots and cargo trousers vibe, it’s hard to slag it off entirely. It’s got a certain HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT vibe in parts to the wordplay, and it’s perfectly inoffensive. I’m sure EASTFIELD fans will be delighted by this, but it’s more rail replacement service than anything.

Failure Obstinate 12″

This savage Italian powerviolence trio is back after five years. FAILURE returns with ten songs in seven minutes, a textbook powerviolence move, as is the usage of samples and micro-bursts of aggressive energy punching you left and right. INFEST (I know, I know; INFST isn’t powerviolence, but surely they are a reference for this band) meets MAGRUDERGRIND, with the latter being more evident in the more metallic, groovy breakdowns. Fastcore? Powerviolence? Who cares! It’s fighting music.

Gaoled Bestial Hardcore LP

Split-label release from these exponents of violent music, this time with a pummeling LP from GAOLED—chaotic mayhem and outbursts of bedlam and hatred, mixing powerviolence, hardcore punk, and non-musical movements. The speed and audacity reminds me of a pack of wolves ready to strike in a lightning-filled night. Metallic punk forms are rejoicing on this one, with matters of an intricate nature regarding violence and discomfort, versing on intrusive thoughts and maniacal expressions, and making noise like a barrier of fists straight to the core. Solid first LP, and it has something to offer to the current wave of punk sounds, with chaos-driven synth on some of the tracks. Vital and violent.

Horse Pat​é​alos en el Krisbow cassette

Here’s a dose of blistering hardcore punk from Indonesia with space-y vocals and mosh-worthy breakdowns. The three core tunes are sandwiched between an instrumental intro and an unsettling outro. The resultant slab of meat is dense enough to provide sustenance, not dissimilar to the leanness of BIB. Cool artwork graces the cover of this tape, appearing to depict a deranged clown holding a bound and hooded cop at gunpoint. Rad!

Kirot Kaasu Pohjaan cassette

Think ’90s dual-vocal anarcho-crust along the lines of Scandi-neighbors OPERATION and PROTESTERA, delivered in the classic raw Finnish tradition. The strongest material on Kaasu Pohjaan is on the second half, maybe because the vocals settle in a bit, or perhaps because I haven’t spent time with aggressive Finn-core in way too long. The riffs are sheer brutality in their simplicity, and the vocals are as overwhelming as they are overpowering—it’s a harsh listen, and that’s exactly how KIROT intended it to be.

Licklash / Scud split 7″

Great 7” of two Australian bands. LICKLASH’s “West Richmond” is upbeat, peppy, and catchy, following a medium-ish tempo for most of the song. The higher guitar parts added some more pop melodic elements that made this song feel youthful and playful. SCUD builds off of LICKLASH, but with a faster tempo and a bit angrier vocals. The guitars in the chorus of “Snake in a Hole” seem to taunt and build off one another in a unique way.

Motorbike Kick It Over LP

This album starts off with a revved-up punk rocker called “Scrap Heap.” The album then becomes a variety of different takes on punk and garage rock, even at times sounding a bit like some ’90s bands like TURBONEGRO, ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN, or the HIVES. They then return to high-octane punk rock’n’roll. The songs are well-written, and I couldn’t help but tap my feet and try to sing along with them.

The Nikoteens Raw Power 1980–85 2xLP

A heavy slab of early German punk here. Formed in 1979, the NIKOTEENS’ debut Aloah-Oehh LP was released in 1983, and this double record set includes that album in its entirety along with a slew of live cuts and rarities. The band played a style of hardcore that was equal parts playful and powerful, playing blistering kängpunk rhythms one moment and suddenly breaking into an Oi! anthem the next. With rabid vocals over ripping guitars and merciless pounding drums, the studio tracks of the first album are crazy, sometimes hitting eyebrow-raising levels of frantic intensity. The bonus material is all over the map, showcasing the band in all their eccentric glory as they slide through a diverse range of modes and tempos in the various collected recordings. Altogether there’s over 78 minutes of music and it’s an entertaining ride, packed complete with a booklet of liner notes and photos.

The Oidz Cryptid BF EP

Fresh slice of warbly garage punk from PRISON AFFAIR’s new label. The OIDZ, like PRISON AFFAIR, C.C.T.V., and BIG CLOWN, create catchy bozo punk that is as smart as it is dumb, chirpy as it is legitimately rocking. “Incel” is a satiric rant from a guy who has no friends and plays XBOX all day, but is confident enough to say, “I’m better than you / I’m better than you / I’m better than you!” Sounds like many a social media comment section. If you gather under the egg-punk umbrella, “Jackin Off in the UFO” is this season’s anthem. It’s almost like the song rips so hard to justify how stupid it is, and I love it. If I listen to it again, I know that it will take over all conscious thought for the next week. A crusty, B-movie, sci-fi rock’n’roll gem of a record from start to finish.

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 Palmettes / Sick Dogs / Tight Genes / Vicious Dreams DCxPC Live and Swamp Cabbage Records Present, Vol. 29 split LP

A four-band compilation focused not just on Florida, but on Orlando—this live record really delivers. I have to admit that my expectations were low. Really low. There were just so many red flags. A live record featuring four bands from one city? Volume 29? VICIOUS DREAMS get things rolling right out of the gate with a super catchy and melodic version of power punk with pretty but sort of snotty female vocals, and they finish things with an excellent X-RAY SPEX cover. Next up, the PALMETTES slow things down with some doo-wop-inspired pop music, again featuring female vocals. While the musical style is quite different from the opening band, it too is super-catchy, and the band is remarkably tight. The B-side starts off strong with SICK DOGS delivering some high-energy, pounding punk rock with a street edge and throaty vocals. The guitar is part AC/DC and part ABRASIVE WHEELS. Great energy. We wrap things up with five cuts from TIGHT GENES. Wow. This is some impressive punk that has me thinking of the ADOLESCENTS, but maybe a little more frenzied. Like maybe add some FLIPPER. Honestly, a great record from start to finish. If you own a turntable, buy this. If you don’t own a turntable, go buy one and then buy this.

Radioactive Toys There’s Enough for Everyone LP

Really solid record here that spans a handful of different punk styles without sounding too contrived. RADIOACTIVE TOYS utilize the dark ska vibe of HOT STOVE JIMMY, the heavy rock’n’roll styling of ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT, and the unmatched energy of early AGAINST ME! mixed with the Ian MacKaye side of FUGAZI. From soaring choruses to choppy upstrokes, there’s enough here to make everyone happy. Half of the songs are sung in German, but the songs in English have great lyrics—primarily the titular track “There’s Enough For Everyone.” A perfect anthem for the slimy, greedy shit we’ve all had to deal with on a daily basis as of late. Really powerful album here, and well worth a spin.

Remedy Feelin’ Back to the City CD

REMEDY FEELIN” is reminiscent of the HICKOIDS with the VINDICTIVES’ singer singing. This has a very particular boot-stomping honky-tonk twang to it. From “Gas Station Blues” to “Fast Fast Woman,” REMEDY FEELIN’ lets you know exactly who they are. I did a little digging and found out they are from the Bay Area, so I wonder if they will be playing 924 Gilman any time soon. Keep a lookout. I wonder if they roll their own cigs and chew tobacco. I want to be clear; I bet this is a lot of fun live. There was a great band in Michigan doing this style around the late ’80s through early ’90s called GOOBER & THE PEAS, so if you are into this type of thing, please look them up, too.

Siyahkal روزای دود و خاکستر / Days of Smoke and Ash 12″

This is some intense hardcore punk. The songs sound like marches. The beat is one-two-one-two-one-two-one-two and so on. This is very tough-sounding, in a good way. Fist-pounding, headbanging, foot-stomping hardcore. This is exactly the kind of punk I want to listen to when everything seems to be going wrong for me. It seems empowering.

The Strains Running the Lines / Checkin’ Out 7″

Solid little single here. Two great tracks that bring to mind FACE TO FACE meets LEATHERFACE meets BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, featuring all of the classic orgcore tropes that get the old fogies like me excited: Frankie Stubbs-esque vocals, soaring guitars, and catchy choruses that make you want to sing along. I just wish there was more of it! The kind of slab that’s so good you’ll keep flipping it until late in the night when your box of Old Style is empty and you force yourself to go to bed.

S.Y.P.H. S.Y.P.H. LP reissue

This 1980 debut LP from long-running German outfit S.Y.P.H. landed right at the crossroads where punk and post-punk diverged, with an A-side largely rooted in sub-two-minute stompers and a B-side that turns sharply toward with freeform freakouts and lengthy, Krautrock-inspired drones—an exercise in contrasts for sure, but it’s also an illuminating one-band preview/overview of the many musical sub-factions evolving out of the late ’70s/early ’80s Deutschpunk underground. “Industrie-Mädchen” (later to earn a Killed By Death nod) and “Zurück zum Beton” employ a Pink Flag-like Brutalist economy with minimal chords slashing over charging drums, while the ABWÄRTS-ish “Lachleute & Nettmenschen” features an industrial factory beat so fixed and unchanging that S.Y.P.H. could have just as easily been the band to mutate into EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN. The fuzzed-out, menacing ”Chess Challenger” recalls fellow German art-fuckups 39 CLOCKS, “Partir” hits an early Zickzack nerve with its guitar-strangling no wave clang and clatter, and the seven-minute prog-damaged instrumental “Kisuaheli” foreshadows the collaborations with CAN’s Holger Czukay that S.Y.P.H. would forge on their next two LPs. Best of all (and a relative outlier in an already eclectic batch of tracks) is the danceable, proto-Neue Deutsche Welle bounce of ”What Happens?,” with Andrea Eichler and Stefanie De Jong taking over vocals for a faux-disco femme-punk banger totally of a piece with DOROTHY’s killer “Softness” from that same year. Tapete is currently in the midst of an extensive S.Y.P.H. reissue run, and this first LP is as good a place to start as any if you’re looking to fall down the rabbit hole.

Torx Torx cassette

With their crypto-exchange-ass band name and a visual aesthetic cribbed straight from some bottom-of-the-barrel egg-punk act, this Leipzig trio is just absolutely begging you to ignore their shit. Which is a shame, really, because this cassette is pretty alright! It’s nine tracks of minimal, jazzy art-punk—imagine MINUTEMEN playing a mix of GANG OF FOUR and YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS, but fronted by a vocalist who sounds like Richard Hell doing an impression of David Byrne. When they keep things crisp or punky, it’s great. But when they veer into post-hardcore territory, it starts sounding like CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH. Worth a listen!

Wax Static Beach EP

WAX STATIC’s Beach EP contains three surf-inspired garage tracks from this duo in Middletown, Ohio—which is about ten hours from the ocean, but don’t tell them that. The title track “Beach” opens the record with a mid-tempo, guitar-forward tune that sounds like it was recorded in the basement, setting the tone with lo-fi charm. “Hard Waves” follows as a 55-second instrumental bop—short, sweet, and the standout of the bunch. Closing track “I Wanna Go” continues the fuzzy momentum. The vocals are a bit buried, the music is simple, but it’s kind of fun.

Abscam Abscam cassette

Spasmodic and violent synth band from somewhere in Los Angeles, if I were to make an educated guess. Hard to put this one together on first listen—ABSCAM is composed of dueling keyboards, guitar, and live drums; the live energy encapsulated on the cassette is a good approximation of what performances I have seen of the band. GEZA X signed to Three One G would be my offering at a sound comparison. How can the songs take form beyond this first offering? I would like to know…

Afterpill / Double Me split EP

This AFTERPILL/DOUBLE ME split 7″ is a quick and dirty snack of powerviolence done two ways. AFTERPILL, a bass-and-drums duo from Saguenay, Quebec, cranks out seven tracks of no-frills, meat-and-potatoes fastcore tunes that sometimes tended to blur together a little bit. It’s solid, but don’t expect a lot of variety. Then DOUBLE ME, a four-piece from Padua, Italy, crashes in with five tracks in just under two minutes, balancing screaming and Cookie Monster vocals over rapid-fire drumming. Despite an average song length of 22 seconds, each track somehow manages to sound distinct, and the recording quality delivers a serious punch. It’s over before you can catch your breath, but if relentless, no-bullshit powerviolence is your thing, this split’s got you covered. Check out the whole thing.

Arson M​á​s Noize cassette

Brooklyn noise punk massively influenced by Japanese masters such as CONFUSE or KURO. Punishing layers of distortion, pressing down upon more layers of punishing distortion. Everything is mangled and destroyed, with the songs just emerging from the sonic wreckage. Agonizing vocals float above the mix, with wailing painful shouts reverberating through the deforested soundscape. Most of the selections are speedy, brief, treble-driven blasts, but the seventh cut, “Sabbath,” takes a turn down a more plodding, blackened path before kicking the tempo back up mid-flight. A fine example of grotesque “music” guaranteed to frighten your strait-laced neighbors.

Billiam Animation Cel LP

In a sea of singles, splits, and EPs, Animation Cel marks BILLIAM’s second LP. This prolific bedroom musician (who has maybe outgrown that label?) does not disappoint fans, with sixteen tracks of buzz, synth-wobble, and screech. In large font, the inner sleeve reads “Autismcore / Billiamwave LP#2”—so if we were lacking a genre handle, we now have two, straight from the horse’s tongue-in-cheek mouth.  I find some of my favorite moments in this album between bass and synth lines, with little guitar fills, like on “Protect the Emerald,” or on the sparse choruses of “Matinee Show” and “My Metronome,” the latter of which hosts a killer synth line: droning, dizzying, perfect. The whole album is inherently lo-fi, yet so many flourishes are packed into these short songs that they sound full, achieving a definitive economy. This album is fun, irreverent, in-your-face and by your side…it is also selling very fast, get yours now.

Burning Kross II LP

BURNING KROSS is the venture of seasoned musicians from the very important Ghent scene, with members and ex-members of BLACK HAVEN, CHEAP DRUGS, and AMEN RA within their ranks. II is their fourth output, and they have managed to steadily progress their sound. Nearly fifteen minutes of floor-stomping hardcore punk delivered in a very USHC way, like a faster NEGATIVE APPROACH. II acts as a way to liberate the anger and frustration of the injustices felt throughout a dying world. They embody the rage one feels towards the ever-growing failures of the system that was meant to oppress us all along. If you want a better mental picture of what it sounds like, just look at the blood-curdling cover, an amazing depiction done by the talented Keith Caves. This is hardcore for the end times.

Cataphiles Shadow Self LP

Deathrockers CATAPHILES from Bremen, Germany recently released the Shadow Self LP, and it’s pure bliss for those of us who enjoy exploring the darkness. Masc/femme dual vocals is the first thing you’ll notice about CATAPHILES, and in this context they provide a sonic balance as well as an emotional unity. Lyrics provide both strong social criticisms and humor with a dark perspective, while sonically, it feeds upon familiar ’80s goth. Occasional pop harmonies emerge from minor key compositions, while momentum seems to build as the album progresses. The ten songs on Shadow Self are individually strong enough to stand on their own, but as a collection, they make for an incredible listening experience. If you like TEMPLE, NOX NOVACULA, or CIERŃ you’ll want to checkout CATAPHILES.

Cyco Cyco LP

This one hits fast and it hits hard. CYCO drags me back to the turn of the millennium, to that in-between era after ACME and ZORN blew the roof off of the concept of metalcore but before ZEROID (and later FALL OF EFRAFA) injected internal intensity and stadium crust rage into the mix. CYCO is all of those things as much as they are North American emotional hardcore. And these Germans…these modern Germans do the whole damn thing and still manage to sound like a raw assault and a ’90s California screamo record at the same time. Check “Learn to Use” and then crank “Pulse” and it’s like the past dragging you into the now. “Fiction to Come” is the choice cut, if only for the isolated bass intro and the D-beat > blast > emo sequencing, but literally every minute on this debut is compelling and engaging . Been a while since I have spent as much time with a new release as I have with this CYCO record, and I look forward to repeated listens.

Dukkha Dukkha cassette

The term “dukkha” refers to discomfort, unease, or something that causes pain or sadness in Buddhism, probably a bit like MTV skacore or dad jokes in secular life. I had never heard of either this genuinely interesting concept, or of the band DUKKHA from Ohio, but I will try my best to remember both. This recording is the first offering of the young three-piece and stands as a very convincing effort. It just sounds effortlessly honest and genuine, and there’s nothing flashy or fancy in DUKKHA’s music. The production is raw and punky, almost organic, and fits well their primitive crustcore style. I am reminded of the classics of fast, gruff crust like early DISRUPT, BATTLE OF DISARM or EMBITTERED, with whom they share a taste for crunchy mid-paced moments. DUKKHA’s recipe is also infused with a HELLHAMMER (if not VENOM) influence, which works with both the style and the textures, helps build a creepy but still angry atmosphere, and provides dark and heavy slower moments. I like this one a lot.

Eliminators B.A.S.E. cassette

Convulse continues on its path of destruction with San Francisco’s ELIMINATORS, whose first release B.A.S.E. showcases three tracks of tough-as-nails straightedge hardcore. The vocals are great, the guitars are crunchy, and there’s an Oi! spirit throughout that ties everything together very nicely, drawing obvious comparisons to early AGNOSTIC FRONT. Highly recommended for fans of angrily stomping around.

Grit Perfect Storm EP

GRIT plays melodic hardcore punk and it reminds me a little of bands like NO HOPE FOR THE KIDS. These are really well-written songs that have an Oi!-type of beat like the stomping of boots that also gives the songs a certain toughness. Whether I can hear the lyrics clearly or not, the tone of the songs is evoking emotion from me. This is the kind of record that reaffirms my love of punk. I love this record, and it saddens me to read that this will be their last record.

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!

Kouristus Mielen Ja Maailman Rappio CD

Fierce, ripping Finnish fastcore/grind. Seriously, five words, and you know you’re either going to love this or you aren’t, because KOURISTUS do the damn thing and they do it brilliantly. You aren’t looking for fastcore/grind? Look elsewhere. You’re looking for fastcore/grind or possible grinding fastcore? Well, guess what, young punks?!?! These fukks have got you covered. Harsh, throaty vocals with high-end support, blasts that will peel paint off of your face, and a massive production that sacrifices none of the band’s ferocity. One song out of fifteen kisses the two-minute mark…but if you know what you like, then you’ve probably already started listening before you read that sentence.

Los Bluffs Give Me Time EP

LOS BLUFFS offer up guitar-centric garage power pop that’s really nicely done. That’s not to suggest that the drums and the bass aren’t well-integrated, just that I feel like the guitar is the focus. I’m also a fan of the understated vocals that are pleasant, but not overbearing. You just kind of find yourself bouncing along with all three cuts, including an excellent JOY DIVISION cover. Really nicely done.

The Miller Lowlifes Pinch Hitters LP

Who the, what the, when the, where the, are MILLER LOWLIFES? The singer reminds me of the DILLINGER FOUR songs that Erik sings, and the band BROCCOLI from Scotland. These songs all have a plucky spirit and a crisp, clean finish leaving you wanting more, and these ten tracks don’t leave you bloated and feeling overindulgent. Anyone looking for that classic A.D.D. and No Idea Records feel will not be disappointed. MILLER LOWLIFES’ formula is as clean and simple as mixing barley, hops, and water, yielding a full-bodied aural experience. This isn’t going to shatter your world, but it will 100% get you through a pleasant evening of porch-sitting and having sips with your best pals.

Oust Rather Be a Fuck Up 12”

A geographically multi-located project that erupts with bizarrely cathartic and urgent D-beat-driven hardcore punk, dispossessed and filled with a particularly darkened fury that also deals with metallic forms of punk, brought to us by the maniacs of Discos Enfermos. Frantic hatred merging ever-ranting, expressive drums and maddening vocals. Filled with raw angst, and recommended for contemporary hardcore seekers.

Positive Thinking The Power of Positive Thinking cassette

Given this band’s name and the artwork for this release, I couldn’t help but be a bit concerned when dropping this cassette into my tape deck. The modern trend of hip hardcore bands claiming to be “psychedelic” and repurposing ’60s-style art gave me pause. Add in the through-the-roof cheesiness factor of straight-up naming a band POSITIVE THINKING, and I was doubly on guard. As a straightedge punk with a love for ’60s psychedelic rock, surely one can understand my apprehension at this point. Lo and behold, my concerns were completely unwarranted. POSITIVE THINKING absolutely rips! A timeless approach to hardcore punk. There are moments that sound just like second-tier ’80s hardcore acts like 76% UNCERTAIN. Occasionally, the overly positive aspect present in eyeroll-worthy youth crew lyrics comes through a bit, but those moments are short-lived, and the band just as quickly moves on to topics of self-deprecation, disdain for society, gripes on the health care system, etc. I will say, if you are interested in getting a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking on cassette (which you should be), be sure to do so through the label that released this, as the band is charging a whopping $12 plus $6 shipping for a cassette online, with it being $10 for the digital recording only. Yikes! I absolutely recognize that everything is wildly expensive in the modern day and that I probably still way undercharge for releases on my labels, but $12 just feels offensively expensive for a cassette, especially when the label is charging $7 (debatably still too much).

Pyrex Body LP

Killer release following a series of likewise killer releases from this prolific group. Body creates an atmosphere of dread and paranoia in a tight eight-song parcel. Overdriven vocals suck the listener into an unsettling void and taunt with an unrivaled perversity of damaging tunes. Creeping elements of post-punk claw through the wreckage, but it’s all too snotty and punk-forward to fit too neatly into that box. Noisy, effects-laden instruments are in service of the overall sound, propping it up rather than masking deficiencies. Energetic one-two beats burst out of motorik grooves, and riffs twist in unusual ways. SCHEDULE 1 and NAG are stomping on similar terrain, but PYREX wields a more wrathful blade. They’re a great live band to boot. Exceptional.

Krystian Quint & the Quitters Something Like That cassette

I like this. A lot. It’s super lo-fi, but also super catchy (those two can go hand in hand. for sure). It’s fuzzy, but jangly at the same time. It’s got a somberness to it, but it’s not a downer. In terms of the sound, I guess I’d call it “indie,” if that’s okay with you. The production is perfect for the sound. This is pretty outstanding for a debut effort. Great guitar sound. These guys are from Detroit, so you know they’re tough. The mood they create reminds me a bit of the DANDY WARHOLS. Really great shit here.

Roberta Lips En Plein Coeur EP

Super fun poppy rock band. These guys are so upbeat and peppy, their songs gave me feelings of summer, specifically songs you’d play at a picnic with your close friends. I loved their combination of keyboard with guitar, both distorted and cleaner, to create a unique energy entirely their own. I think one of my favorite aspects of these songs was the backup vocals, specifically in the track “9 Meses,” it definitely felt very ’60s. Already added their songs to my spring playlist.

Rocking Chairs of Piss Shit Your Ribcage Out CD

This band and album name had a lot to live up to. I wanted to love this record. Instead, I was bemused and baffled. The music is your typical punk affair, but the vocals are absolutely unhinged. It sounds like they recorded the singers to an isolated track and then laid them over the music later on, as if they took a spoken word album and spliced it with some of the most generic punk backing tracks you can find. There’s just no rhyme or reason to any of the cadences, and it leads me to believe this is all ad libbed. You know something, though? I think I actually do love this album. It’s just so off-the-wall and ridiculous. It would be a stretch to call these lyrics brilliant, but they definitely made me laugh, especially the final line in the song “Hendrix Clock”: “I want to hear the sound of the robin! Get me one right now for Christmas!” Honestly, it’s like if Jasper and Horace from 101 Dalmatians started a rock’n’roll band. If you’ve got 30 minutes to kill, this is worth checking out.

Sachet The Seeing Machine cassette

An indie rock quartet hailing from Sydney, SACHET offers a delightful and angular perspective on progressive pop. Their newest album, The Seeing Machine, was released as part of a pair of cassettes promising mellow melodies, carried by the sweetness of the vocalist. Her light voice paired with the jangled instruments makes for a great carefree atmosphere, detailed by Nick Webb’s wah pedal, Kate Wilson’s bubbly drums, and saccharine lyrics. “Redecabbaged” and “The Lodger” capture the essence of airy post-punk imbued into the album, similar to the CARDIGANS in mood but distinctly alternative. A great addition to their discography, this third release, running short of fifteen minutes, unfurls a welcome mat to those looking for some good fun.

Slander Tongue Let it Snow / Rock & Roll Bed 7″

I’m not a fan of the band name, but I’ll get over that. Mid-tempo and catchy, this is power pop/rock rooted in the late 1970s. I’m not a fan of lots of extracurricular guitar work. I just find it too much sometimes. These guys push that envelope, but they manage not to cross the line. I like the tempo, which is peppy, but not overly fast. Super catchy. Almost reminds me of the FORGOTTEN REBELS. High praise right there.

Sloks Viper LP

Some nasty garage work from Italy here on the new SLOKS LP. With distorted stomp and insidious groove, these veteran rockers cast quite a spell, swinging from hypnotic psych dirges to swampy voodoo jump as if compelled by Old Scratch himself. The gravel-throated carnival barker of a vocalist injects just the right dose of 1950s camp into the proceedings to make it suitable for inclusion on a John Waters film soundtrack, but it’s too powerfully raw to be mistaken as dopey cosplay—this here is real rock’n’roll, a blackened kind of blues with a rugged punk soul, filtered through able hands and killer instincts. Recommended for those who are comfortable in the dark.

The Thingz From A to Z LP

I wasn’t familiar with Chaputa! Records until I reviewed another of their releases last year. This THINGZ record being my second exposure to the label has me realizing that I need to be paying more attention, because I had the exact same initial reaction to this one—this music is fun. And that sounds far too simplistic, which it probably is, but it also just seems accurate. Sixties garage sounds with plenty of organ and keys, From A to Z is horror-tinged without being over-the-top, not too unlike a West Coast version of HUNCHBACK. This isn’t a record that’s for everyone, or even for most, but if this kind of music hits for you, then this should easily land in your rotation.

Warcollapse Deliberate Indoctrination LP

This is epic crust/D-beat hardcore punk. I am pretty sure that I’ve been listening to this band since their first record, and I think that they are just getting better. The music has many different textures to it. It ranges from their classic D-beat crust to something slower, slightly metallic, and dark-sounding, almost similar to 45 GRAVE mixed with ZYGOTE. When they switch back to their epic D-beat/crust sound, it is devastating. This is an intense record, and I am looking forward to their next one already.