Review / 200 Words Or Less
Explode and Make Up
Some Kind of Diplomat

Underground Communiqué (2009) Jason

Explode and Make Up – Some Kind of Diplomat cover artwork
Explode and Make Up – Some Kind of Diplomat — Underground Communiqué, 2009

Any band that names themselves after a Sugar song automatically wins major points with me. And it doesn't hurt the band's cause when you hear names like Dag Nasty and 7 Seconds batted around in reviews either. Explode and Make up features the singer of 88 Fingers Louie as well as members from The Bomb and The Suicide Machines. And yes, they play old school melodic hardcore in the vein of bands mentioned above. I even hear bits of 411 and even the all mighty Lifetime. There's plenty of fast catchy hardcore with a couple of "whoahs" and hooks that will leave you humming these six songs in bank lines. If know me, you know I eat this stuff up like a box of Mike and Ike's.

8.5 / 10Jason • December 10, 2009

Explode and Make Up – Some Kind of Diplomat cover artwork
Explode and Make Up – Some Kind of Diplomat — Underground Communiqué, 2009

Advertisement

DCxPC 2025

Recently-posted album reviews

Gus Baldwin & The Sketch

The Sketch
Permanent Teeth (2025)

When The Sketch opens, I find myself quickly thinking of “Got The Time” by Joe Jackson. For the most part, that comparison fades by the time the power chords kick in at 10 seconds, but I also bring it up because (at least in my mind) that’s a classic track that doesn’t get enough fanfare. No artist wants constant “sounds … Read more

Chat Pile

Cool World
Flenser (2024)

The great American experiment has a wide range of experiences, but it tends to focus on the coasts. There are countless dystopian pieces of art, often culling from a Warriors-esque concept of urban grit. Chat Pile play dystopian, brutal noise-punk, but from a distinctly middle American point of view where instead of civilians shadowed under dense skylines, their anonymity instead … Read more

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