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!

Adacta Tma LP reissue

Damn, this really is a blast from the past. I had not thought of ADACTA for ages, but reading the name instantly brought back memories of two decades past, back when trying to be TRAGEDY was still an acceptable thing and my hair was luxurious. Needless to say, I haven’t played this Bratislavan band since that illustrious epoch, and had no idea they were still around and kicking. What’s the deal, then? This LP is actually a reissue, as Tma was originally released in 2015. The initiative makes sense because, if you are into progressive, dark, metallic crusty hardcore (also known as “neocrust”), this album will undoubtedly delight you, as it is perfectly executed and ticks all the expected boxes. It has everything you’d expect from this genre and more—the thick, down-tuned heaviness, the dark, moody guitar leads, the epic changes of pace, the anguished, hoarse vocals, and a crow on the cover. ADACTA sounds like an unstoppable machine of sorrow and anger. The songwriting can be ambitious at times, but the band always manages to pull it out. I love that they decided to stick to their native language, as it confers some extra meanness. I am no longer in touch with the genre and rarely listen to it, but when it is that well done, I always enjoy it and it makes me want to dig out my records from ACURSED, SILENCE, or mid-’00s WOLFBRIGADE, and maybe get some hair implants. A strong record in its own rights.

Bart and the Brats / Jacket Burner Good Cop / Bad Cop split EP

If you weren’t peeping the sleeve for guidance, it would be difficult to tell where one band ends and the other begins on this well-matched 45. Uniting two esteemed acts from France and New Mexico respectively, you get two down-home-style garage jammers from each band. Real rockin’, Xerox aesthetic, ski masks, donuts—what else could you possibly ask for?

Cathexis Cathexis demo cassette

In the ever-mutating world of heavy music, few bands are as bold and inventive as CATHEXIS, a sci-fi-inspired metalpunk solo effort by Neuromancer that fuses dystopian storytelling with a knuckledragging sonic assault on the senses. Like a thematic spiritual successor to the boundary-pushing work of VOIVOD, CATHEXIS sounds like a raw mixture of G.I.S.M., BATHORY and ONSLAUGHT, just to name a few. Themes delve into the realm of works such as Simulacra and Simulation and provide a sense of hopelessness as we step towards a technocratic world. Future metalpunk has landed!

CPC Gangbangs Roadhouse EP

Canadian purveyors of down-and-dirty garage CPC GANGBANGS are back, this time with a couple of smashing covers sandwiching the title track of this smokin’ little EP. First up, their version of CRIME’s “Rock and Roll Enemy No. 1” foregoes the original’s scuzzy wobble in favor of a revved-up rock’n’roll that hits a satisfying pitch. Next, the only original song here, “Roadhouse” is a quick, harmonica-strewn groove that surely has put a grin on BO DIDDLEY’S ghost. Finally, the jumping R&B of BOBBY JAMES’s “Going Back To Philly” gets the GANGBANG treatment, ending the record on an upbeat note. This will be a hot little treat for ears of a certain ilk.

Dolent Dolent cassette

DOLENT is a newly formed Valencian punk band that is producing blistering, grimy, and toothsome throwback hardcore. No information could be found on my end as to previous bands or projects from the current members, which adds to the ambushed effect that this body of tracks hurls. Ten songs total, and it’s a no-skip situation through the whole bleedin’ thing, with “Avail Els Murs” (“Avail the Walls”), “Punks De Tendencia” (“Trendy Punks”), and the operatic-laced “Noves Glories” (“New Glories”) being my darlings of the pack. It is also worth noting that this cassette is from the brilliant minds at Flexidiscos, whose roster is a perpetually enriching discovery for me…thank you!

Electric Chair / Physique split LP

For the uninitiated, it is helpful to begin this review with a bit of lore. ELECTRIC CHAIR and PHYSIQUE share a similar origin story, having begun at roughly the same time and both in the city of Olympia. They’ve shared members, lived together, played together, partied together, and in general terms, are besties. To cement their long-term friendship, they conceived this split LP, which honestly is perhaps the best punk split to ever exist. Each band plays five songs on their respective side, with ELECTRIC CHAIR bringing their JERRY’S KIDS/POISON IDEA-styled hardcore punk and PHYSIQUE offering up their FRAMTID/GLOOM-infused noisecore. The whole thing is packaged and presented by Iron Lung Records and mastered by Shige Noise Room, so the  LP is deliciously noisy and absolutely glorious when consumed at maximum volume. You may end up having a favorite side, but for me, this split delivers a complete package from end to end, with both bands presenting their best material and in turn creating a landmark recording of contemporary punk. It’s honestly that fucking good.

Funeral Damage Muerte LP

Berlin’s FUNERAL DAMAGE returns with an absolutely punishing slab of noisy, nihilistic hardcore. Muerte is soaked in dread, feedback, and reverb-heavy vocals that echo from the underground. Think DEFORMITY meets DESTINO FINAL with an added layer of Eastern European menace. The lyrics hit hard even when screamed in Spanish, the riffs are dense and gritty, and the whole LP feels like getting buried alive under bricks of drumming. Raw and essential.

Great British Heroes Eric Miller / Don’t Give a Damn 7″ reissue

The other GBH who came before G.B.H. made a quick appearance on one of the Bored Teenagers comps and then faded into the background…except for the true freaks who sought after the Lightning Records 45 that was pressed and pulled and never released. Early UK punk businessmen and managers all scrambling for the money-grab were truly motherfuckers, and the band slogged about for years without a proper release even though they started gigging in 1977. There was a boot a few years ago, and now a new generation of rockers can drop the needle on some first wave punk by way of proto-pub rock gold. “Don’t Give a Damn” is a burner featuring guitars that land like an amateurish On Through the Night outtake, and the A-side is…well, there’s a reason it was booted, and there’s a reason the Bored Teenagers curator pulled it out of mountains of underappreciated English punk singles. I’m sure this one will disappear fast, but I’m just as sure that someone else is going to give it a(nother) rebirth in a decade or so. As they should, of course.

Hasty Hasty cassette

I’ve been a huge fan of Michelle Shirelle since her days in the STEINWAYS, and on her latest output, fronting a three-piece band out of NYC, she delivers the goods yet again. Michelle did excellent work on the debut LP from SCRAPPED PLANS last year, a sort of pop punk supergroup with members of the MURDERBURGERS and the ERGS!, but where that leaned into guitar-driven modern punk, here she takes it down a notch and injects a very indie pop vibe into the proceedings (think CUB or GO SAILOR). Four tracks of bouncy pop punk with very catchy melodies tossed between sardonic and sweet-sounding vocals, the whole tape flies by and leaves you wanting more. There’s a note from Michelle in the insert accompanying the tape talking about how when this was recorded, she was dealing with her cat having a pretty stressful health emergency, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from listening to this—it just puts you in a good mood and makes you tap your foot. This kind of stuff can come across as disposable or forgettable, but the band does a great job of making this stand out and be worth your time. Get it if you’re out there fiending for melody.

Ryan Kidd Remote View / Cracked 7″

The A-side of Tennessee’s RYAN KIDD’s latest single, “Remote View,” is an extremely catchy, power-pop-infused modern punk anthem. Gnarly riffs, fat bass, and supporting synths lay the foundation for charismatic and powerful vocals that remind me of the great Pete Shelley. Sprinkled guitar noises and Velcro licks supply a good amount of ear candy and liven up the sound considerably. For the B-side, he does a great job covering the TIGHTS’ classic “Cracked” and collects all the bonus points.

Leatherman Turn You On LP

Fantastic pure rock’n’roll here, folks. I don’t think LEATHERMAN would be opposed to me comparing them to THIN LIZZY because it almost sounds like they’re aping them on purpose, but if you’re gonna ape, you gotta ape from the best. That’s not to say the whole slab sounds this way. A hefty portion of this album reminds me of if LITA FORD partnered with SUGAR STEMS, which pairs as well as Vegemite and cheese. These are Australians we’re talking about here, after all. Bittersweet vocal melodies paired with the most scorching of guitar melodies. This checks all my boxes.

Lung The Swankeeper CD

“Everlasting Nothingness” starts off the album with a bang. It’s melodic and slightly off-putting, with some heavy guitar to back it up; I was immediately hooked. And let me tell you, these guys know how to do a proper breakdown. Listen to “Sunshine’s Over” or “Self Help Journey” if you don’t believe me, but the utter chaos and noise of the distorted guitars with the operatic choir-esque vocals creates the perfect explosion. Can’t stop listening to this album.

Monk Dark Side of the Mind LP

L.A.’s MONK take the concept of “Positive Mental Attitude” and go wild with it on their debut LP, Dark Side of the Mind. Citing influences like 86 MENTALITY and BIB, MONK plays a non-stop stomp that features a slew of breakdowns and gang vocals that sound hard as hell. Lyrically, MONK lives up to their name, mostly touching on introspection and spiritual teachings. They even conclude the album with a twelve-minute, spa-like meditation, an unnecessary but interesting inclusion. Overall, on paper this could all be very corny, but thanks to the strength of the music and the conviction of the performances, MONK pulls it off. I think if you played this record backwards for a yoga class, you could really freak out some yogis.

NOLLKOMPETENZ 1 LP

Strange old one, this. A band who seemingly have zero interest in any kind of online presence to the point of obscurantism issue a self-released album that’s only streaming on YouTube, and yet…it’s not total shit? It’s quite good, actually? A mix of Oi! aggro, with the kind of rollicking speed we associate with hardcore, and a sprinkling of guitar showing off for a laugh. Despite all signs and efforts pointing to this being annoying and for wankers, it’s actually definitely worth your time. Check it out.

Psicodencia Cahui EP reissue

Originally released in 1990, Cahui is the sole document of Mexico’s PSICODENCIA aside from a scattering of comp tracks. Going in, I was expecting blistering hardcore in the vein of ATOXXXICO, but that isn’t quite the case. While there is some overlap in tone, PSICODENCIA is far more eclectic, incorporating elements of new wave and even reggae to novel effect. That description may sound nightmarish on paper, but in practice it equates to an approximate blend of ARTICLES OF FAITH, NOMEANSNO, and the EFFIGIES. There is a level of raw talent exhibited on these five songs that stands up to the intervening thirty-five years without sounding dated like so many other releases from the era. The label’s description refers to this as a classic of Mexican punk, and I don’t think that’s mere hyperbole. Cahui is quirky, to be sure, but the execution is flawless and the sound quality is superb, avoiding the production pitfalls that one might expect. From the needle drop to the dead wax, this is killer without filler.

Scrapyard Demo 2024 cassette

From the basements of New Jersey comes SCRAPYARD, a straightforward hardcore outfit swinging with all the urgency of classic punk. Pure punk energy with no filler! While the original tracks showcase the band’s blend of USHC with Oi!, the standout cover of “No Return” is a tribute to the classic UK punk band ONE WAY SYSTEM, showing respect for tradition with their own twist. SCRAPYARD’s Demo 2024 is a brief but potent debut. A perfect teaser of what’s to come from this energetic crew.

Shrapnel Sedan Crater LP

Garage-tinged psych-pop from Sydney’s SHRAPNEL, with a dense, maximalist vision (there’s seventeen songs on this thing!) that’s articulated with an aura of in-the-red, blown-out fuzz still signifying “lo-fi” in spite of how full and sharp the production actually is. Opener “Catch You Out” immediately brings to mind the swirling, lysergic kaleidoscope world of the OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL, if only they’d been more obsessed with the SOFT BOYS than the BEACH BOYS, as the soaring, roughed-up British Invasion hooks in “Fountains of Ute” and “Taking Hold” likewise cast straight back to ’90s-era home-recorded wall-of-sound eccentrics from GUIDED BY VOICES to the MOLES to the APPLES IN STEREO. There’s so much other ground covered here, though—“Ice Cream,” “Pickup Sticks,” and “Miller’s Daughter” have a more contemporary OZ DIY sensibility, recalling the arch, jangly, and sarcastically named 2010s dolewave micro-scene centered around bands like DICK DIVER, CHOOK RACE, TWERPS, etc., while the synth-laced, shimmering power pop of “Turning the Knife” suggests Ork Records-era CHRIS STAMEY fronting GAME THEORY, and might just be the best song on the whole LP. If any of the (admittedly not standard MRR) references in this review push even one of your buttons, give this a go.

Sick of Talk Live at CBGB + First 7″ Demos cassette

Look, the whole damn tape is worth it to hear Alex growl “let’s fucking go!” during “In Your Place,” but if you’d like to listen to the rest of that damn thing, I wouldn’t blame you. It’s the first track, and I’d hate to have you waste your money, you know? I remember when the self-titled EP came out in the mid-’00s, and I admit that I dismissed it based on the cover art (sorry). I was wrong, the shit rips hard…but these versions of those songs are another animal entirely. Holy fukk, this shit sounds mean. So yeah—demo versions of the tracks from that EP, plus a face-melting 2005 set at CBGB. If you like North American hardcore, you need this. For fans of NEGATIVE APPROACH, SPAZZ, ABUSED, SIEGE…you get the drill, right? In a just world, these two recordings would be slapped on a 12” and it would be on everyone’s best of 2025 lists. Mandatory hardcore listening.

Telesatan Telesatan cassette

Cassette version of the four-song 7” out on Phantom Records. This is the third release by Germany’s TELESATAN, returning after a three-year gap from their previous cassette also on Phantom Records. Mid-tempo spooky punk with sassy vocals barked on top. TELESATAN never really makes their way out of the mid-tempo range, with the bass and drums locking in on the repetitive grooves while the guitar meanders around. Vocally, I hear similarities to long-running Buffalo, NY noise rock act ALPHA HOPPER. Both vocalists have a similar chirp, as well as regularly utilizing a vocal upscoop. Professional-sounding recording given the Will Killingsworth mastering treatment, so you know a bit of what you’re in for with the sound quality.

Tentáculo Va A Pasar Algo LP

From Seville, Spain, TENTÁCULO releases their second LP and their first release in five years. Fairly straightforward melodic punk sound, with a little post-punk guitar riffing, ever-present throughout the songs. A really great mix—I can hear everyone clearly and evenly. While not the most exciting praise, I find it worth noting, as it’s often not the case. Listening brings to mind the kind of passion and aggression similar to Portland, OR’s ABOLITIONIST, though these lyrics aren’t presented, so I can’t say what they’re actually conveying. Anyway, they play on a heavy sound mixed with the melodic, hardcore-style “aaaah” backing vocals, mimicking guitar riffs, in the choruses that often bring a melancholic energy. I really appreciate the craft on display here; everything is tight, precise, and very honed-in. They formed in 2012, so it’s no wonder they’re completely bonded by their sound.

Vampire What Seems Forever Can Be Broken LP

Since reviewing Pomegranate Seeds: An International Benefit for Mutual Aid in Gaza, the compilation put out by the DISSIDENTS, I’ve been hunting for more VAMPIRE material, so when I saw I was assigned this LP I became very excited. VAMPIRE is an Australian band that plays apocalyptic anarcho-punk. A sense of extreme urgency pervades VAMPIRE’s sound, and What Seems Forever Can Be Broken is ten songs that combine the demanding hardcore of CONFLICT, with a foundation of CRASS, and the rough-hewn delivery of raw punk. The resulting album is dark, hauntingly mesmeric, but also aggressive with a sense of communal voice. In other words, this is anarcho-punk that is of the moment, and articulates exactly what contemporary punk is about without being preachy or elitist. This is that eye-to-eye, in-the-trenches vocalization of criticism that comes off as eye-opening and perspective-altering. What Seems Forever Can Be Broken is by far my favorite release thus far in 2025, but also might be the best album I’ve heard in a really long time. Like, this is benchmark-level material, so definitely give this a listen.

The Witchcraft Merit Badge April Fools 2024 7″

This is a fun two-song 7” that covers the PROMISE RING and DISCOUNT. The WITCHCRAFT MERIT BADGE pulls off what is usually impossible to do, which is to take a known song and make it their own. With both the PROMISE RING and DISCOUNT, WITCHCRAFT MERIT BADGE delivers a unique indie punk twist on these late ’90s classics. I’m not sure if I understand the band and what they are trying to do, if anything at all, but I don’t think I need to, either. This is enjoyable, and perhaps that is enough.

V/A No Coast: Punk Compilation CD

I’m not from the US, so a lot of your references are lost on me, one of which is “the Midwest.” It’s as vast and unknowable as the bottom of the ocean, or Narnia or Middle Earth or something to me, and so I can only assume that it causes the kind of psychic and cosmic damage that would result in some of the output on this record. Sixteen tracks of some of the most generic, garage band, milquetoast “street punk” going. It sounds like copyright-free library music. If this is the best the Midwest has to offer, then I’m joining the liberal coastal elite. Pass.

Aliment Sempre Res 12″

ALIMENT is a somewhat elusive entity. With releases tracing as far back as 2010, they have clearly been honing their craft for quite some time. The accomplishment of such longevity yields dividends that take the form of pulling off complex rhythms and harmonies with ease, sneaking nuance in through the side door, not to deny the effectiveness of the hooks and general catchiness at hand. That’s the beauty of Sempre Res (which translates to “always nothing”)—the pop sensibilities lure you in, but the ingenuity and angularity will keep you coming back. Stylistically, ALIMENT occupies the midpoint between PROTOMARTYR and the MARKED MEN. Not as dour as the former, nor as overtly melodic as the latter, they have a textured post-punk aesthetic that doesn’t get too gloomy or zapped of energy. Barcelona seems to consistently produce bands that twist the dial a bit to the left. ALIMENT is no exception. Provocative in exactly the right ways. 

Artificial Go Musical Chairs LP

ARTIFICIAL GO returns with another offering of post-punk out of Cincinnati. On this go-around, you can easily hear the evolution in the band’s sound, with lush production and more genre exploration. The warm production sounds great, specifically allowing the bass lines to evoke the sounds of the SLITS, DELTA 5, or fellow Feel It Records act SPREAD JOY. The genre exploration, on the other hand, seems to provide really mixed results. The breezy Flying Nun Records sound in tunes like “The World is My Runway” and “Late to the Party” provide really nice, dreamy grooves that seem to lock in and get the head bopping. When the no wave influence gets too hot though, things start to veer the other way. Tracks like closer “Sky Burial” just feel ephemeral, and low point “Red Convertible” tried my patience to the point of fighting not to just skip forward and end it. Argue that I simply don’t get it, that’s fine, but the highs and lows on this record are so discordant that it takes the head from bopping along to banging on a table and back in whiplash-like fashion.

Astio Tempio Inganno LP

The way I would describe this is a combination of post-punk, anarcho-punk, goth, and darkwave, but it sounds like they have carved out their own space within all of that. This sounds very well-recorded and the minimalist production is a change from how I imagine that they sound live. I appreciated the change of pace from the rest of what I was listening to. This is a very good record.

Bad Motivator Not an Album LP

Swampy, fuzzy, KINKS-like rock’n’roll. Seems a little too produced to call it garage music. Tons of energy, for sure, but it seems sort of put-on to me. It’s also got this herky-jerky thing going on that I almost always find annoying. Other than a nice cover of the GUN CLUB’s “Sex Beat,” this is mostly forgettable for me.

Black Iron Prison Black Iron Prison LP

Here we have a fringe case of subtraction leading to something truly unique and impressive. Toronto’s BLACK IRON PRISON genuinely took me aback with their abstractive and deconstructive approach to powerviolence. But to be fair, I’m feeling bad for even trying to put this thing in a box. Is it even possible to call it powerviolence at this point? It is too constructed to call noise, but too deranged to categorize as any conventional genre. Even Iron Lung, the legendary label that constantly releases the most out-of-left-field music ever made, refrains from describing it in a literal sense. But for the sake of giving you a vague idea of what to expect, I’d say it sounds like FOOT VILLAGE and the BODY had a fucked up abomination of a baby—or rather, a featureless, hollow mold of a “baby”—and then fed it nothing but dull razor wires and dry ice. And if you want me to be slightly more descriptive, the whole LP consists only of claustrophobic, pummeling, yet weirdly ritualistic drums, and hysteric vocals of someone who is trying to rip out of their body with utmost urgency. There is occasionally some miscellaneous noise sprinkled on top as well, but that’s pretty much it. Sorry folks, no guitar, bass, or riffs today! But come on, who needs those when the whole record sounds like a bouquet of shining, sterilized, ice-cold surgical knives? It’s perfect as is, and I’m willing to fight anyone who thinks otherwise.

Cold Summer Altlasten EP

Feedback-drenched and frost-covered, COLD SUMMER from Leipzig combines post-punk and hardcore into a ferocious and icy presentation on the Altlasten EP. Moments of otherworldly, atmospheric sounds intersperse the hardcore that is of the variety that gives you goosebumps but also makes you want to dead-eye motherfuckers with cool confidence. The vocals push the limits of vocal cord strain as they scream with passionate but melancholic precision and deliver the lyrics in German. The final song on this four-song disc is entitled “Keiner ist Mehr Da,” and with its pumping bass, drifting lead guitar, and innovative tempo changes, it comes off as refreshing and invigorating. Sporadically and for only the briefest of moments, I catch a combination of sounds that recalls post-hardcore from a couple decades ago, so there is a sense of familiarity within Altlasten. All in all, I’d recommend everyone give this one a try.

Contra la Contra Ни Слова О Политике LP reissue

This is a reissue of an album that has been out of print for around twenty years. Dual vocals that remind me of what was going on in the US in the 1990s. Anarcho-punk with a little melody to go along with the heartfelt lyrics and the hardcore punk music. Originally released 2002, this new reissue in 2025 brings back a lot of memories. If you like AUS-ROTTEN, MANKIND?, ANTI-PRODUCT, or the like, then this is a record for you. I love this.

Detësto Horrendous Reality of War EP

I have seen the name of this Brazilian band floating around the internet for a while but never actually bothered giving them a proper chance, so this review feels a little karmic. This EP is called Horrendous Reality of War, the band did a cover of DISCHANGE in the past, and it is DETËSTO’s second collaboration with the noise-loving label SPHC, all clear indications that the listener will be dealing with some impactful dis-punk material here, a pleasing perspective that I am always ready to embrace. To be honest, I did not expect the record to be that good. If I hadn’t known they were from Brazil, I would have thought they were from some dark corner of Sweden. This band is an incarnation of heavy and gruff direct Scandicore done well. They remind me of the mighty SVAVELDIOXID, as they share the same sort of thick, aggressive production that makes the music sound like an angry mammoth on a rampage. The songwriting looks lovingly and religiously toward Distortion Records-era hardcore, and if you are looking for old school SKITSYSTEM or late WOLFPACK or just like to be shouted at gratuitously, DETËSTO’s EP will do the trick. There may be a little too much effect on the vocals for me, a common element in contemporary hardcore, but otherwise it is top-shelf.

GLOWING BRAIN Memory Distortion LP

Oakland trio thriving in the grey zone between sludge punk and the most abrasive corners of noise rock. The distortion is so cranked you’ll wonder if the band is just pushing amps down a stairwell. Think UNSANE in a fistfight with early HELMET at a gas station. Sick grooves, constant feedback, and desperate screams—perfect for solo walks through industrial zones in the rain.

Insult to Injury Realm of Indifference LP

I thought the band name rang a bell, so I took a quick peek at the internet before I started listening. First thing I saw was the cover for the split with 10-96, and it was like someone flipped on all of the lights at once. I was curious (how has the sound aged?), I was eager (I remember this shit being tough as nails), I was anxious, even…but mostly I was fucking ready. Except I wasn’t. Not for this. INSULT TO INJURY existed completely outside of my realm when I was in the Midwest—thuggish mosh metal I associated with people who affiliated themselves with “crews” was completely not my thing then (and still isn’t). You know what they say about books and covers and preconceptions though, right? If beatdown hardcore sounded like this, then I might need to do some re-evaluating, because 2002’s Realm of Indifference is an absolute beast. Period. The trappings of a generic hardcore release are all there, but INSULT TO INJURY avoids literally all of them and this release sounds fresh and devastating more than two decades later. There are elements of the bare-bones fastcore that dominated the DIY scene at the time, but delivered with tough, full-throated metallic hardcore brutality. There are skinhead tracks (“Crazy Streak,” most notably) that sound like something from another world. The beatdown parts are one thing (and a powerful thing), but throw a blaster like “Vise Grip” in the mix and you’ve got yourself a fucking problem. I am sure this will (still) get lumped into a “scene,” but this outsider is extremely grateful for the reissue—I’m glad these sounds didn’t stay in the past, there are new minds ready to be blown.

Kaleidoscope Cities of Fear LP

Building on an impressive catalog of top-tier releases, KALEIDOSCOPE is back with their most savage offering to date. From the drop, they plunge into a wellspring of anarcho-punk influences, with “Burning Alive” sounding like a forgotten CRUCIFIX classic. Far beyond mere mimicry, KALEIDOSCOPE alchemizes a confluence of foundational influences, yielding an album that rewards repeated listens. Not dissimilar to companion bands STRAW MAN ARMY and TOWER 7, they springboard from the familiar into an uncharted territory that few bands are brave enough to consider exploring. Out of this willingness to experiment emerges a mutated creature that spews venomous punk into the face of a dying society. Cities of Fear is an obvious contender for album of the year for me, and I suspect many others. Crucial and recommended in the most forceful of terms.

Les Lullies / Split System split 7″

With a rather hilarious acknowledgment of its international camaraderie on the cover, this hot little split carries strong tracks on both sides. First up is Melbourne favorites SPLIT SYSTEM with “Chemicals,” a steamrollin’, raggedy-edged rocker that sounds like it could be a cover of an outtake from CIRCLE JERKS’ VI LP. On the flip, Montpellier’s LES LULLIES deliver some florid pop garagery in the form of “A L’Etroit,” whose tough groove and bright refrain brings the SAFETY PINS’ “Just in Fun” to mind. Nice.

Merked Oakland / Cleveland split EP

Oakland’s sludge-infused wrecking crew MERKED joins forces with Cleveland’s crust-drenched hardcore unit PILLARS for a pure sonic devastation split. Oakland/Cleveland is a collision of scenes. MERKED tags their style sludge violence, and it’s a spot-on descriptor for their grim sound. The opener starts with eerie sound clips before erupting into pummeling powerviolence infused with super heavy sludge. The trio mixes punishing riffs with unpredictable tempo shifts, creating a brutal ride within just four minutes. PILLARS jump in with “Occupation,” a four-minute dose of metallic crust reminiscent of TRAGEDY and INTEGRITY. Then comes “Piss Off,” a concise and savage 44-second-long killing spree. This split is a dynamic showcase of the potential of the current underground scene.

Nisemono 偽者 Nisemono 偽者 LP

Flesh-peeling and salting duo NISEMONO returns with their first foray into the LP format; this is good news.This band previously brought attention with their 2022 demo, and from the cross-pollination from members of NYC’s DOLLHOUSE and the almighty WARTHOG. Since then, I haven’t heard anything from the band…until now!! This record is prime listening, the band’s pedigree is sky-high, and they are swimming in deep, stormy käng/D-beat waters in each song. There is CONFUSE with AVSKUM, there is DISFEAR with ANTI-CIMEX, there is also a fucking amazing video to watch for “酷い思い出 / Hidoi Omoide” (“Terrible Memories”) which features exploding heads. Be the first of your friends to buy this fucking thing!

Personality Cult Dilated LP

That lean, angular, almost too perfect punk we’ve come to expect from Dirt Cult Records is delivered here in spades. Fast songs, dark lyrics, and non-stop hooks that stick around for days. This is their second album on said label, with the first one having been recorded by Mark Burke of MARKED MEN and RADIOACTIVITY, and you can feel the inspiration and influence. Ben Carr’s vocals have the right amount of snot and nasal range to keep it unique, and they play as another instrument in the mix.

Problem Addict Tick cassette

Debut five-song cassette from Pennsylvania. I am going to assume Philadelphia, as that’s where the label is from, but I cannot be sure about that. PROBLEM ADDICT mostly plays spooky, mid-tempo grunge-tinged garage punk. There are elements of other different punk subgenres sprinkled in on this recording, like the weird, short synthy interlude and repetitive instrumental industrial outro track, but grunge and garage are what feels prevalent to me. The thing most confusing to me about PROBLEM ADDICT is the seeming lack of self-awareness. For example, I would have assumed this was a self-titled cassette until I did some online searching. While there is a drawing of a tick making obscene hand gestures on the cover, only on the internet is it referred to as the Tick EP. Stylistically, it can be hard to describe yourself or your own projects, but attaching a self-proclaimed “egg-punk” tag to this feels confusing as hell to me. That is a genre almost exclusively synonymous with recordings being lo-fi, and I would describe this recording as anything but that. This tape feels very produced and slick. “It’s a Joke” is a pretty killer garage punk track that stands out, however.

Qualms Drowning in Obedience cassette

Pretty heavy hardcore from Portland, Maine’s QUALMS. Featuring members of the punkier MISERY WHIP, the band is self-described as “Maine Spiritual Violence,” which I presume is a reference to the powerviolence influence throughout. I like the chugging riffs and the breakdowns, but the vocals aren’t my thing, and by the lumbering final track “Seed,” Drowning in Obedience was a little lost on me.

Ratonera Humana 3 Temas cassette

Some straightforward punk out of L.A. here with a simple and sinister sound. With a name that translates to “Human Mousetrap” (and a bizarre depiction of this concept on the cover), this cool unit delivers a buzzing guitar chug and venom-laced vocals sung in Spanish on this three-song cassette. Sounds like they’re just getting started, but on the right track.

Sexverbot Sexverbot cassette

SEXVERBOT reminds me of the SEX PISTOLS, but with less obsessive anger and more wit. They know how to nail a classically punk sound, but perhaps too much so at times where some of the songs start to blend together, as one in the same sonically. My favorite track was “Der Antagonist,” with a slightly different guitar style and more spoken vocals that add up to a nice and loud eruption of a chorus. I wasn’t necessarily wowed, but I didn’t dislike them either.

The Spackles Clamaro CD

Interesting album here. Very psych-heavy, as if LED ZEPPELIN and the ALLMAN BROTHERS decided they wanted to start sounding like MINUTEMEN with Hutch Harris of the THERMALS on vocals. This is essentially the reincarnated spirit of FRANK ZAPPA AND THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION, which is always a huge plus for me. If I’m being honest, it took me a minute to start vibing with this album. But the more I understood their direction, the more I started to love it. Not your typical MRR affair, but if you dig garage rock that thinks outside of the box, you’ll want to give this a couple spins.

The Spiky Tops Let’s Go! Pogo! EP

I mean, look at the cover. You already know. The songs are snotty and beer-fueled BLANKS 77, the CASUALTIES, the PIST, and the QUEERS-flavored punk rock. Sometimes in their photos, they have spiked-up hair, so I wonder if the name SPIKY TOPS comes from that. The songs are brimming with energy. The lyrics, although a little formulaic, are honest and heartfelt. For example, in the song “Going Down to the Bar,” I really believe that the guy wants to meet up with me and go down to the bar. Furthermore, in the song “Let’s Go Pogo,” I feel like the SPIKY TOPS want me to go pogo somewhere. This is a catchy, hands-in-the-air, chuggin’ 40oz of beers or seltzers music, and when they sing “Party till your guts spill out” in the song “Party Till Your Guts Spill Out,” I know that these folks would be laughing as they hold my hair back while my guts spilled out of my mouth.

Sympos To the Dogs LP

I have to agree with fellow MRR reviewer Ben Marshall on SYMPOS: they were a joy to discover, have very strong first wave UK ’77 influence, and at times sound distinctly un-Oi! for an Oi! band. There’s no self-serious tough guy posturing to be found on To the Dogs, a refreshing change of pace indeed. The tracks are high-energy, catchy as hell, and at times remind me of ANTI-PASTI, UK SUBS, and ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE. I love this album, and highly recommend it regardless of whether you have a mohawk or no hair at all. Check out the title track, “To the Dogs.”

Thought Partner When Your Money Fails LP

Third release and first to vinyl from the Boston-based THOUGHT PARTNER. I hear the truncated, post-hardcore rhythms and shouted vocals of JESUS LIZARD, but with a synth that creeps in and bubbles around the turbulence. There’s long sections of drone and pulse, sparse at first, then rising with manic vocal flourishes for a brain-rattling crescendo, on full display in “Backfilling.” Right up my alley. While the aforementioned track clocks at over five minutes, they also have sub-two-minute tracks, speeding right by, making you long for those stretched-out moments. In general, the band plays effectively on the tension between odd rhythms, heavy four-on-the-floor beats, slower sections and chugging calamity. Dissonant, weaselly little guitar riffs mixed with a fat, heavy bass and splashy, find-every-possible-fill drums—all under the command of those vocals that sound like the singer is swinging on a pendulum past the mic, adjusting his volume as he draws nearer and further. After a few listens of this self-released record, I’m hooked.

Totälickers Directo Lu​í​s Aragofest 2023 cassette

Active since 2006, TOTÄLICKERS have paid their dues to D-beat! Worshipers of DISCHARGE and MG 15, these seasoned punks from Barcelona don’t fuck around. Surely, the best way to experience the intensity of punk is live. That’s where bands make it or break it. Captured live in Madrid, TOTÄLICKERS’ live album is a testament to their D-beat prowess. Blazing through eight tracks (that are actually eleven because some songs are stitched together), the band delivers breakneck riffs, angry rants, and pure punk chaos. It’s fast and it’s furious; a must for hardcore purists.

The Violent Isles Gang of Del Ray LP

Odd one, this. Listening to it after reading their influences (SHAM 69, the BUSINESS, the TEMPLARS, etc.), I had to ponder what exactly was it they took from these? Was it to make plodding, mid-tempo post-punk with vocals that sound like they were recorded next door? I suppose, if I am going to be charitable, I can sense some guitar tones that are not un-TEMPLARS-esque, but that would truly be taking a bit of a leap. Not sure who this is for, really.

V/A Calgary Calling LP

I’m half-Canadian, like left ear to right ankle or something, so I’m really connecting with this comp right now. Local scene comps are my favorite because I feel they really take the time to give an accurate slice of a community. On the other hand, one of the biggest issues with local comps like this is that bands will sometimes give their throwaway tracks. I don’t feel like this is at all the case here. Some of the standout bands for me start at the beginning, with the BREAK INS’ opening shouts of “One, two, fuck you” energetically blending parts of the OBSERVERS and the BAGS. GALATICAS, JULIET’S GOT A GUN, and LETTERS TO NORMA continue on with punk, thrash, hardcore, and indie vibes, and I thought MEDUSAS’ song “Block Him” was a hockey song, but upon further listen, it is a scathing review of dude that I think is harassing one of the people in the band. For the most part, the only job of a compilation is to give some new bands a try, and moreover, to provide something new to track down, and this does just that. Calgary Calling has everything from art-punk, punk, math-rock, SoCalL riffs, indie, ’90s DC-core, riot grrrl, and hardcore, which means there is something on here you’ll certainly be turned onto. REBEL GIRRLZ have a great BIKINI KILL-ish tune that completely knocked my socks off. Just when I thought I’d found my favorite song, TIPLESS comes in with “Emetophobia,” which has a sound like SONIC YOUTH blended with chaotic hardcore. Look, if I was a non-dirty mayor, completely unlike the mayor that JULIET’S GOT A GUN talks about in their “Dirty Mayor” song, I would post this on Calgary’s city website to attract tourist punks that might not stop into Calgary traveling through doing black bear and moose research. There are fifteen bands, and both the CD and LP come with a twelve-page booklet. There is something on Calgary Calling for almost everyone. I think you should consider grabbing this from wherever you grab things from.

Abolition Abolition demo cassette

Gotta love it when a band clocks in with a demo that is a completely realized batch of tunes. That’s exactly what ABOLITION offers up for us here. Four-chord Parisian street punk that attacks like a psychotic mutant with liberty spikes. Striking the balance between hardcore punk and UK82 with catchy, gritty tunes they burst out of the gate as a well conditioned unit. Fans of SAVAGEHEADS should take note, along with anyone who sank their teeth into the INFRA full-length from earlier this year or the 2024 THATCHER’S SNATCH EP. So many groups that attempt this sound fall embarrassingly short, which makes it that much more exciting when a band like ABOLITION pops up. I’m excited to see where they’ll go from here. Yet another great release from the fine folks at Mendeku Diskak.