Latest features — browse all

2024: A Year In Review

Music / Year End 2024 • January 13, 2025

It's a new year – hooray. And things are off to a fine start, too. If the thought of corrupt governments, AI domination, unmoderated social networks and endless war is causing you to retreat into the past, we don't blame you. In fact, we encourage it! Our writers have summed up the best things about 2024 across a range of areas: album artwork, demos, photography, EPs and singles, books, and more. Read on to discover what we enjoyed most about last year and catch some things you may have missed – or the music your girlfriend recommended that you really should have paid attention to... Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2024)

Music / Year End 2024 • January 4, 2025

It's 2025, somehow. When did this happen?! Okay, okay, four days ago. But honestly. It feels like 2012 was only … Read more

Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2024

Music / Year End 2024 • January 4, 2025

It's a SPB tradition to formally "pass the mic" to our artist and label friends to tell us about their … Read more

999

Interviews • January 4, 2025

I'm alive and so are 999! They formed in London in 1976 and quickly became one of the favourites of … Read more

Latest album reviews — browse all

The Anomalys

Down The Hole
Slovenly (2024)

If I have to give the elevator pitch, I’ll call The Anomalys garage rock with an ear for surf and psyche rock -- turned up to 11 and blasted through blown out speakers in an old 1980s sedan. It’s high-energy, no-frills rock ‘n’ roll with attitude. While it’s short, loud and fast, there’s also quite a bit of nuance and … Read more

Pinhead Gunpowder

Unt
1-2-3-4 Go! Records (2024)

Pinhead Gunpowder began in 1990, recording a 7” in 1991. The band last released a 7” in 2008… Until late 2024 when the band returned with the 14-song full-length Unt. So congratulations if you had “we get a new Pinhead Gunpowder record before a new D4 record on your bingo card. (These two bands released a split 7” in 2000 … Read more

The Cure

Songs of a Lost World
Capitol, Fiction, Lost Music, Polydor/Universal (2024)

It's been sixteen years since The Cure released their last album. I don't know if anyone really knew what to expect, but it's one of the most influential bands in history so expectations were high. The Verdict? Those expectations were met. It'd be silly to say Songs of a Lost World is a "return to form" as the band and … Read more

City Mouse

So Far Out
Brassneck Records, It's Alive (2024)

There are few bands that hit with the mix of raw emotion and musical talent as a live City Mouse show. There are even fewer bands that can capture that live feeling on a record. It’s been a long 7 years since Get Right, but So Far Out keeps it moving as if no time has passed. Of course, the … Read more

Additional album reviews

Machine Girl

MG Ultra
Future Classic (2024)

Ideally, I would be a bit more interested in art. In visual art- paintings, sketches, MS Paint monstrosities- whatever. I wish I knew more about the meaning of a brush … Read more

Ekko Astral

pink balloons
Topshelf (2024)

Their music is for people “who are struggling, who are at their absolute lowest". That’s a quote from vocalist and guitar player Jael Holzman talking to The Washington Post. Am … Read more

Build Us Airplanes

All Things Expire
Sell The Heart Records (2024)

Build Us Airplanes covers a lot of ground on this 9 song LP, All Things Expire. It’s melodic punk for the most part, but with distinct elements of emo, post-hardcore … Read more

Lustmord

Much Unseen Is Also Here
PELAGIC RECORDS (2024)

Lustmord, the reluctant pioneer of the dark ambient scene has returned with another expansive work of existential dread in Much Unseen Is Also Here. His arsenal of industrial components, field … Read more

Økse

Økse
Backwoodz Recordz (2024)

Økse is a gathering of brilliant, creative minds. The project's roster is pristine, with avant-jazz phenoms Mette Rasmussen on saxophone, Savannah Harris on drums, and Petter Eldh on bass/synths/samplers joining … Read more

Final

What We Don't See
Room40 (2024)

Justin K. Broadrick's prolific output keeps giving, and may it never stop! The latest release is one of Broadrick's earliest projects, Final, which started in the power electronics tradition but … Read more

Bambies

Snotty Angels
Spaghetty Town Records, Wanda Records (2024)

The digital files I’ve been listening to as I write this review are all tagged to begin with the band name, e.g. “Bambies Teenage Night,” “Bambies Love Bite,” etc. It … Read more

Buñuel

Mansuetude
Overdrive, SKiN GRAFT (2024)

With a stellar line-up featuring vocalist Eugene S. Robinson (ex-Oxbow), guitarist Xabier Iriondo (Afterhours, A Short Apnea), bassist Andrea Lombardini (The Framers) and Franz Valente (Il Teatro Degli Orrori), Buñuel … Read more

News headlines — browse all

SPB stream: ASkySoBlack - Touch Heaven

Posted in Records on January 31, 2025

I've spent my entire life falling out with myself, this record was largely written during a time in which despondent self-loathing culminating in the loss of a decade long friendship and love. Touch Heaven is an admission of guilt, a failure to change, and a cry for help in the … Read more

What's Red and Blue and Baroness?

Posted in Tours on February 7, 2025

After a recent Philadelphia, PA show featuring their Red Album and Blue Album in their entireties, Baroness will soon bring a similar show on the road in the Midwest and … Read more

The Taste Testors' first taste

Posted in Records on February 7, 2025

Newly formed Seattle, WA punk band The Taste Testors will release their first album at the end of the month. The band, featuring members of Rabid Dogs, The Greatest Hits, … Read more

Comeback Kid revisits "Wake The Dead"

Posted in Bands on February 7, 2025

Comeback Kid is preparing to tour in support of the 20th anniversary of their album Wake The Dead, kicking off 20 years to the date with a hometown show in … Read more

Punchcard clocks in early with "Stealing My Identity"

Posted in Records on February 7, 2025

Poppy skatepunk-inspired San Diego, CA trio Punchcard is back, giving us the new single "Stealing My Identity" from this month's upcoming new album, Soapbox Hero. The record will release officially … Read more

Doomsday is finally here in 2024 (with a full-length LP)

Posted in Records on February 6, 2025

Doomsday is coming on March 28, but we have a preview now as the Oakland, CA crossover band has shared "The Outlaw." The band's debut full-length will be titled Never … Read more

Reagan Youth, Volume III

Posted in Records on February 6, 2025

Cleopatra Records will release Life and Times Revisited, Volume III from Reagan Youth at the end of the month, on Feb. 28. The album is the brainchild of the late … Read more

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