Every once in a long while a band comes along that’s a true pleasure to discover. A sonic kick in the ass for these weary old bones. The Bobby Lees are just such a band. The release of the Hollywood Junkyard e.p. earlier this year pricked up a lot of ears and served up a mean prelude to the new album Bellevue. Like a DNA splicing of Stiv Bators and Exene Cervenka, vocalist Sam Quartin growls, groans and grooves her way through Bellevue’s 13 savage numbers with nary a sleeper in the deck. Those of you that remember the garage-rock resurgence of the late 90s with bands like Murder City Devils and Zen Guerrilla will find this album like a welcome visit from an old friend with songs like "In Low" and "Ma Likes To Drink" kicking those garage doors right off the tracks - summoning (we can only hope) a new rock resurgence to fill the deep, dark, soulless void of modern music. Read more
The life cycle is strange sometimes. Kids in the Hall is back, but The Eradicator is going away. One is … Read more
Saturday Night Karaoke is a local band that has produced many joyful stuffs along their career. There has always been … Read more
Should I review Beach Rats on its own merit, or should I pause to describe the concept? That’s always the … Read more
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Bayonet is a Jersey super group or sorts. taking members from such bands as Senses Fail, The Banner among others. In any situation like this it is hard to tell if the project is really a band in itself or merely something spat out for fun. One can hardly assume what this will sound like as each members prior (or main) project have at best only slight similarities to each other. Bayonet was announced as a band and their record within a short period of each other so one may ask how does it really stack up? Pretty good in general is the answer. Here's how it works, take the heavier moments of Senses Fail, the metallic leanings of The Banner and boil it into an above average hardcore band. … Read more
If ever a band from the mid-’60s was underappreciated I would have to surmise that The Sons of Adam might top that list. The band comprised of Randy Holden of Blue Cheer and The Other Half, Jack Ttanna of Genesis, bassist Mike Port and drummer Michael Stuart Ware of Love! High Noon Records have compiled The Sons of Adam’s complete … Read more
It is nice to see some friends actually being productive on the pandemic age and finally come up with something new on the scene, like we all know that for some person having so much free time doesn't mean a good thing for her/his productivity. And this goes up for the boys of Swarm. Swarm is a newly formed skramz … Read more
As the album begins, following a Twin Peaks sample, the guitars build in a familiar punk chord progression with some post-hardcore flair. At about the one-minute mark, you know the vocals are going to kick in, and you half expect a group “Hey!” That’s not quite how it goes, but the vocals are emphatic and punchy with a similar syncopation … Read more
UK horrorpunks Siblings Of Samhain offer us up album number three just in time for the spooky season! Tales of Love, Death and the Macabre is 12 tracks of dark, creepy yet incredibly catchy punk rock dedicated to a plethora of gore-tastic blood soaked horror themes. From the first track "Bury Me" you are immersed in the sing-a-long chorus and … Read more
At a chance recommendation of one of my best friends, I was introduced to An Abstract Illusion some three years or so ago. I was immediately hooked, as it would be obvious for someone with such an inclination for death metal. More particularly though, the melodic and progressive edge of their music was the actual selling point for me. Illuminate … Read more
This is how a 7” is supposed to work. Three quick songs and it leaves you wanting more. DFMK play punked up rock ‘n’ roll. Maybe think of Rocket From The Crypt but with denser, but somehow dancier, songs with a little more force behind them. It’s meant to be played loud as you thrash about and (if it’s your … Read more
In my review of the last Calabrese record, Flee The Light, I said I hoped it would not take them too long to release a new record. I asked them to not make me wait four years to be precise. It has been two and half years roughly and here they are again, with an EP this time. Thank you … Read more
Laypeople who don’t listen to heavy music often lump it all together, even while those of us who dedicate our time to the cause can pick up the difference between death metal, thrash and hardcore in seconds. RASHŌMON are one of those bands that would have people in fits right away, likely calling it metal even though there are few … Read more
I swear that the artists and albums I choose to review are getting harder and harder to research... I like to base my reviews on the facts I can find about out the artist but with this one I'm going in kind of blind. What I do know is that Lex Lüger is a musician from Spain, I'm not sure … Read more
There is a tendency, I think, to label any loud band, any loud female band, as Riot Grrrl. Reducing a band to a genre they’re not and plugging your ears while they show you why they’re not that genre is damaging- both to the band in question and to the Riot Grrrl genre. That’s how you get New York Post … Read more
Joyce Manor is one of those bands that I always follow, a band that shaped my tastes in my earlier years of digging into pop punk/emo subculture. Let’s say I would like to thankgod, ‘cause 2022 is a year where a lot of good stuff is coming out and unfortunately 40 oz. to Fresno is not so good for me. … Read more
There are certain guitar tones that recall another era, and Chained Bliss are rooted in one of them. When I hear the angular riffs and repetitive structures on the band’s self-titled debut full-length, I’m immediately taken back in time to the glory days of Wire or Gang Of Four. But while Chained Bliss shares some similarities with the British post-punk … Read more
It's always nice to know one of your friends and favorite bands is doing good stuff and this example goes to a Singaporean band called Xingfoo&Roy. I met them initially 6 years ago. Me and some friends in our tiny town arranged a gig for the band. They're super nice and I think I've been in love since they put … Read more
So, then, is it sabotage? Or is it just punk? After 2017’s knockout hit single, “Smoko,” and a solid sophomore album, The Chats have been brushing up awfully close with mainstream success. The Australian trio is one more Wet Leg cover away from rising above the underground. Poised for evening talk show circuits and stadium tours they do what any … Read more
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