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Fest 23 – The Wrap

Music / Fest 23 • November 15, 2025

Pure Joy The 23rd FEST in Gainesville, Florida recently wrapped up. Scene Point Blank has been to the majority of them over the past two decades, beginning at FEST 5. I've personally attended roughly half of them. And at FEST 23, I saw 44 bands in 3 days (an even 50 if you count the pre-shows I attended). I took close to 3,000 photos, met several online friends in person and managed to sleep a few hours in between. Then I slept for about another week after I got home at 1am on Monday evening, which means this wrap-up has been a little slow in delivery. Fest is a monumental feat. While I saw 50 bands, I missed many (many) more. Heck, there are some bands I didn't even realize played until I was reviewing details after the fact. It's a weekend where you have to balance your love of music, socializing, and your own personal limits. It's about adjusting on the fly when a venue is at capacity or you just need to take a little breather. What struck me the most about FEST 23 was how the event is evolving, still, after 22 previous versions. It's always been referred to as something of a punk rock family reunion, but that element is now literal. The Fest has become a multi-generational event with many of the larger venues allowing toddlers-to-teens. I even met some parents of band members this year in the crowd. While it's changing, the vibes aren't. … Read more

The Saints

Interviews • November 14, 2025

As The Skids sang, The Saints are coming!.......Storming North America! The Saints ’73-’78 land on North American soil in early … Read more

Fest 23: Artist Interviews

Interviews / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

FEST 23 takes place later this month, from Oct. 24-26 in Gainesville, FL. Something like a billion bands are driving, … Read more

FEST LIBS 23 & Fest Moments

Music / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, … Read more

Latest album reviews — browse all

Radioactivity

Time Won't Bring Me Down
Dirtnap, Wild Honey Records (2025)

"When I've had enough of modern life, I go back to my analog ways." It's a simple quote, yet it captures so much about Radioactivity. It's been 10 years since the band released Silent Kill, and this time around the Jeff Burke-led group shows clear growth and change, while still capturing the same vibe as the previous two records. In … Read more

Tony Molina

On This Day
Slumberland Records (2025)

I went to a birthday party for my wife and six or seven other friends and acquaintances last night. I guess people liked having sex in January in the late 70s-early 80s? In Canada at least, that’s how we keep warm in the winter! Anyway, I was foraging at the smorgasbord with a couple former co-workers talking about my recent … Read more

Often Wrong

The Figs Are Starting to Rot
Far From Home Records (2025)

Often Wrong is an emo/grunge/screamo hybrid born out of the DIY scene. It was built through the kind of friendships that start in basements, not boardrooms. The band formed in 2024 and quickly started carving out their own lane. They are blending fragile, journal-entry emo with blown-out guitars and throat-shredding catharsis. They’re signed to Far From Home Records, a label … Read more

Armor for Sleep

There Is No Memory
Equal Vision (2025)

Armor For Sleep return with an album that treats memory like a weapon. It’s delicate, devastating, and impossible to disarm. For those who may not be as old as me and missed their emergence into the emo/indie scene, the Teaneck, New Jersey band started in 2001. Led by frontman Ben Jorgensen, they dropped gems like Dream to Make Believe (2003) … Read more

Additional album reviews

Imploders

Targeted For Termination
Neon Taste Records, Static Shock Records (2025)

Back in or around 2007 my buddy Jake invited me to a show, I’m not even sure he told me who was playing or if he did I hadn’t heard … Read more

Imperial Domain

Portentum
Wormhole Death (2025)

Formed in 1995, Imperial Domain cut their teeth in the Swedish death metal underground with early demos before dropping In the Ashes of the Fallen (1998) and The Ordeal (2003). … Read more

Chairmaker

Leviathan Carcass
Independent (2025)

There are some musicians that come along and can literally play every instrument and do it well. Such is the case for the grindcore brainchild behind Chairmaker, Neil Erskine. He … Read more

The Devil Wears Prada

Flowers
Solid State (2025)

Twenty years into the grind and The Devil Wears Prada haven’t lost their edge. However, in recent years, it’s a bit more refined and less jagged than their earlier release. … Read more

DFMK

Playa Nuclear
Alternative Tentacles (2025)

DFMK have been playing since 2009, but Playa Nuclear is just their second full-length. It kicks off with exactly what I expect of the band in "Mi Rutina" -- a … Read more

Action/Adventure

Ever After
Pure Noise (2025)

Chicago’s Action/Adventure have been grinding the pop-punk trenches since 2014. They have always played pop-punk like it still has something to prove because for them, it does. They went viral … Read more

217

In Your Gaze
Time To Kill (2025)

If you didn’t know, hardcore and punk are alive and thriving in Italy. When I come across bands from there, their scene never ceases to amaze me. Italy gave us … Read more

Ugly Stick

Absinthe
Hovercraft Records (2025)

Contrary to what I said on Vh1’s Behind the Music, Tim from Hovercraft is one of my favourite human beings. I suppose in some ways that’s not saying much but … Read more

News headlines — browse all

Belushi Speed Ball releases record (on Game Boy Advance)

Posted in Records on November 30, 2025

Belushi Speed Ball has announced a unique reissue of their latest album, Stellkira: Editioñ Extra De Luxe, sold in limited supply for the Game Boy Advance. The new medium includes a full video and the full album. The band is currently in the studio at work on a fourth album. … Read more

Laura Jane Grace, Fucked Up & more at MPF

Posted in Shows on November 29, 2025

Manchester Punk Festival, April 3-5, 2026, has announced a wave of bands to play at next year's event -- with more to ocme. The 2026 festival is the 10th occurrence … Read more

The Mike Dirnt bass

Posted in Music News on November 23, 2025

Epiphone has announced a new limited edition bass made in partnership with Mike Dirnt of Green Day. The new edition takes his Gibson Grabber G-3, with added features specific to … Read more

Gros Enfant Mort post-hardcore from France

Posted in Records on November 23, 2025

French screamo/post-hardcore band Gros Enfant Mort shared the song “Merci les cendres” this past week, the first single from a new album called Le Sang des Pierres, out Jan. 23 … Read more

ZU time

Posted in Records on November 23, 2025

Italian instrumental trio ZU i sback, sharing "A.I. Hive Mind" from this winter's new double album Ferrum Sidereum, out on Jan. 9 via House of Mythology. The title translates to … Read more

The Vega Vault Project reissues

Posted in Records on November 22, 2025

Two Alan Vega solo records will be reissued in early 2026: his first solo albums, Alan Vega and Collision Drive, plus a companion deluxe edition with remastered audio, demos, photos, … Read more

Florida Underground Fest 5: the live 2XLP

Posted in Records on November 22, 2025

DCxPC Live record label has announced Florida Underground Fest 5 Vol. 1 & 2 – LIVE from Will’s Pub, Orlando, FL, a collection of bands that took the stage at … Read more

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