Loren

Editor in Chief — Minneapolis

Loren's latest post – April 25, 2026

Biography

I started writing for the site in early 2008. I also work for a publishing company and do freelance writing on the side. I occasionally use the twitter here: https://twitter.com/lorenmgreen.

Favorite bands

Dillinger Four, Arrivals, Brokedowns, Tim Version, Weakerthans, Broadways, The Blind Shake, Tiltwheel, Fugazi

Loren's most recent reviews Browse all

The Sleeveens

National Anthem
Goner (2026)

National Anthem is the second album from The Sleeveens, a Nashville, TN band fronted by an Irishman. The band play that perfect mix of protopunk and classic rock 'n' roll that's built on a verse/chorus/verse structure and melody without any frills. It's leather jacket music for the common folk. The debut grabbed me by my collar and spun me around … Read more

Sweat

Tear it on Down
Vitriol (2026)

Tear It On Down is the third record from Sweat and it picks up where the last two left off. It's aggressive hardcore punk, but with a playful groove or swagger that really makes it feel uplifting, even when the content is not. Case in point: "Surveillance State," which rolls kind of like a call-and-response song, except that lead vocalist … Read more

The Arrivals

Payload
Recess (2026)

It's been a short lifetime since the last Arrivals record, Volatile Molotov, but in many ways the new Payload picks up exactly where the last one left off. It straddles the mid-tempo punk spectrum while drawing influence from seemingly all realms of the rock 'n' roll cannon. I'd state that mod, power-pop, Brit Invasion, and even R&B are some of … Read more

Amy Beth And Thee Creeps

Shitheel EP
Chaputa! Records (2026)

Sometimes I like to come into a record as a blank slate. Amy Beth And Thee Creeps sent me a short email with their latest EP, Shitheel. It's a 4-song garage-punk ripper that's easily under 10 minutes. I just checked: it's five and a half minutes. With no bio, the music speaks for itself and this is rhythmic, pulsing garage … Read more

Loren's most recent features Browse all

Unseemlier

Interviews • April 24, 2026

It was about a year ago I discovered Unseemlier, shortly before the release of I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere. It's a wordy title and a somewhat unwieldy band name -- and I’ll use that “a lot going on in a little space” metaphor even further to talk about the band's "heavy emo / soft punk" sound. It's singsong at … Read more

Guest List: War On Women

Music / The Set List • April 24, 2026

It feels like a lifetime ago when Mitt Romney referenced a "war on women" during the 2012 presidential cycle. A lot has changed, a lot has stayed the same -- but a new politically-charged band formed in the aftermath of that comment, calling themselves War On Women. Now, roughly 14 years later, War on Women are releasing their fifth full-length … Read more

The Arrivals

Interviews • April 12, 2026

The Arrivals have been a band for 30 years -- though they’ve made us wait 16 years for the follow-up to 2010’s Volatile Molotov. While a ton of time has passed and the band has moved, literally in some cases, and raised children in others, their sound is still the same: thoughtful and timeless DIY punk, rooted in foundational rock … Read more

Post Office Experiences

Music • March 10, 2026

In a different world, which we think was shortly before COVID and MAGA and all things bad and in ALL CAPS occurred, Scene Point Blank had the idea to write a comprehensive piece about mailorder experiences from the people who dedicate their free time to sending you records, cds, tapes, zines and the like. Time makes fools of us all, … Read more

Loren's most recent blogposts Browse all

Search/Play/Repeat - December 2025

Posted by Loren • December 8, 2025

The less I say about 2025 the better. Well, except to say that Scene Point Blank's 2025 Year End coverage is in development so, actually, I'll be talking about the year a lot. Search/Play/Repeat is a sporadic playlist feature that's just about sharing music though, instead of hitting some topical … Read more

Play/Search/Repeat - May 2025

Posted by Loren • May 27, 2025

It's been a while since I put another playlist up. I actually had this 99% done a couple of months ago, but everything went haywire and the list went on hold. This edition of Search/Play/Repeat is a quick play, running about 30 minutes in total. Enjoy! Read more

Visual Learner / BlackDots / City Mouse

Posted by Loren • May 14, 2025

Visual Learner, BlackDots, City Mouse, Couch Potato Massacre Cloudland Theater Minneapolis, MN May 7, 2025 I’m embarrassed that I haven’t covered any shows at Cloudland for SPB previously. It’s a relatively new addition to the Minneapolis scene and a welcome addition that feels as much like a community space as … Read more

Best of 2024 Playlist

Posted by Loren • January 23, 2025

Sometimes I get all introspective and ask myself why I do this. Not very often, but the answer is always because I like music. It's that simple. I like to discover new stuff and I like to share it. Every year, the staff at Scene Point Blank sink a ton … Read more

Loren's most recent news stories Browse all

SPB featured stream: Cut-Rate Druggist - Blistering

Posted in Records on April 1, 2026

We're pleased to bring you a full stream of Blistering, a new full-length album from Cut-Rate Druggist of Oakland, CA. Out on April 7, this is your spot to hear it early and often, courtesy of the band, DCxPC Records, and Scene Point Blank. Rules are made to be broken, … Read more

Spirit Adrift, live then dead

Posted in Tours on April 25, 2026

Spirit Adrift just released their swan song, Infinite Illumination, and has followed with their final live date announcement. This spring the band will join the Deibel Tour, replacing Fulci on the bill. “We were sorry to hear that our friends in Fulci are unable to make it to the States … Read more

My Heart, An Inverted Flame - My Death...

Posted in Records on April 25, 2026

May 15 is the release date for My Death is More Beautiful Than Your Life, from sunth-doom duo My Heart, An Inverted Fame -- coming out on Crucial Blast. And if that intro was too verbose, we'll break it down to the basics from here. It's the band's second album, … Read more

A 2014 by way of 2026 Exhumed and Iron Reagan split

Posted in Records on April 25, 2026

The 2014 split 12" between Exhumed and Iron Reagan, first released as part of the Tankcrimes Split 12" Series, is returning to print on May 15, again via Tankcrimes after roughly a decade out of print. Each of the 8 songs on the split are exclusive to this release. Read … Read more