Intro.
Nikita Nozh. St. Petersburg. Member of FAKE FUN & VIA POP MUSOR. This REVIVAL PUNK;)) VIA POP MUSOR is a formation from Belgorod, Russia! Remains of the Belgorod Underground! Our trick is to come out with a new release every five years, was invented in 2020, we just released a new one, art made by our friend from St. Petersburg, Sasha Canadian, it's connected with everything what was happening with us in 2020, we're wildly happy with it. Originally, we're from Belgorod, but living all around Russia right now. This year, my another band Fake Fun was on Indonesian tour together with Chunder during the beginning of the fucking pandemic, we returned back to Russia anyway, but with a great difficulty. Here's my top of 2020: Rat Cage - Screams From The Cage Label: La Vida Es Un Mus Location: Sheffield, UK Rat Cage are my favorites of the modern punk scene, the best punk in all its forms! After Career Suicide of course, haha. I think this is the best release of 2020. had a chance to get drunk and totally crazy with the guys at their show in London at Static Shock Weekend in 2019:) Banshee - Livin’ In The Jungle Label: Cardinal Fuzz / Feeding Tube Records Location: Boston, MA, USA Banshee is the most unexpected and unordinary release of 2020, if you find a video of their live, send me the link, I'm fucking looking for it, the only thing I know about them, that they have a stellar lineup from all my favorite bands of '00s and '10s) White Stains - Make Me Sick Label: Song Book Records Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA White Stains is cherry on the cake of the end of this fucking year:) a project from the Pittsburgh stars, including Eric from Government Warning and etc. You yourself can understand now, what kind of gang it is, when this living legend participates. Public Acid - Condemnation Label: Beach Impediment Records Location: Raleigh/Asheville, North Carolina & Richmond, VA Public Acid made just fucking crazy release, I listen to it every day. Comparing to when I first heard Ajax. Just insane stuff, which will remain in my player for a long time. They also have crazy live from New York from February 2020! Cement Shoes - A Love Story Of Drugs & Rock & Roll & Drugs Label: Drunken Sailor Records Location: Richmond, VA, USA Cement Shoes is another stellar line-up, which spits the previous release with each new one! Looking forward to LP from them! Just love! Bonus: Man-Eaters - Gentle Ballads for the Simple Soul Label: Feel It Records / Pissed Off Records Location: Chicago, IL, USA Kiss Disease - Kiss Disease Label: Lempi & Sylvi Discs Location: Helsinki, Finland
0 Comments
Intro:
Under the Knife is a black & brown owned and ran DIY music label releasing music genres under the umbrella of punk, hardcore, industrial, polka? whatever...just all types of freak shit. Based in New York city and Jacksonville, FL. Outside of music we release zines as well as films on VHS. As a writer trying to describe each band and do them justice and not another half assed review at points can feel a little more than challenging but what I can whole heartily say without any doubt is that every band on this list take on the challenge of being a part of a genre that is multi decades old and still finding ways to keep this kind of music exciting, interesting, fun, and new while continuing to raise the bar. I hope you all enjoy the bands on this list as much as I do. Dog Breath - I Sang Bagsak Label: ? Location: New York, NY, USA Another amazing release from one of my personal favorite New York hardcore bands. I love this record particularly aside from great music, punching riffs, and angry fast hardcore; it’s also very intimate. From the sound clips and samples that are mixed and edited to perfection to featuring shoutouts from friends, family, and affiliates and truly displays and represents the unity within this music scene, unity with black and brown communities, and speaking on what needs to be spoken about all wrapped into an amazing record. Dog Breath is and will always be my favorite New York hardcore band don’t sleep on them. Human Blod - Flykten Från Verkligheten EP Label: Havoc Records / Desolate Records Location: New York City and Sweden This record is another one of my favorite releases of 2020. Every member of this band has been involved with a lot of great projects and each one individually as musicians are beyond talented, from classics such as Totalitar, and more current bands such as Scalple, Extended Hell, and honestly too many more to type. Amazing raw punk from veterans who have and will consistently drop bangers. When listening to this the first thing I noticed is the tone on the guitar and the drums. Outside the classic crashing D-beats what stood out to me in particular most are the drums. They don’t let up, constantly hitting you with an intense build up or a pause followed by an abrasive fill. The bass fill out the project in a way that completes the cycle of each instrument feeding off one another. Overall this record raises the bar for traditional raw punk. Subdued - Over the Hills and Far Away LP Label: La Vida Es Un Mus / Roachleg Records Location: London, UK One of my favorite bands out of the UK released on New York City’s Roachleg records is hands down my current favorite hardcore band out of the UK. Traditionally what pulls me in is the drums but on this particular record the guitar really stands out to me. With classic punk riffs with a modern hardcore twist done with surgical fucking precision has been on repeat for the last month. Listen, listen loudly, and remember the name Subdued. Kleener - Demo Label: DEMO FEST Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Fresh out of Toronto this was released in part of Demo Fest, a fundraiser for Solidarity Across Borders. This band revives an era of when punk was fun. With sporadic vocals, chaotic guitar leads, and fast spastic drums to back it it’s hard for me to compare it to other bands to give you, the reader, a better description but honestly I can’t and that is one of the things I love about this band and how unique it is. My best advice is to listen and then you’ll understand why this band made the list. The Passing - S-T Label: Caligari Records Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Blackened hardcore punk from Los Angeles influenced by Scandinavian black metal and D-beat raw punk with the perfect combination of creative drumming and staying true to straightforward hardcore. This EP stands out to me for so many reasons instead of talking your ear off go listen to it immediately instead. Jenny Diver - El Rock De La Dècada EP Label: Estaría Chido Poder Volar Location: Mexico City, Mexico Jenny Diver, out of Mexico City, is a band that has unique vocals that stand out. Truly the perfect combination of melodic, angry, and fierce wrapped in with a classic punk sound and proof that you can make an amazing record with 4 chords. I have no doubt in my mind that this will be an instant classic. Mystiker - Credos of Practical Meditation EP Label: Self-Released Location: New York, NY, USA Mystiker out on Ritual Abuse records is a solo black metal project. The first thing that stood out to me about this release was how it was mixed and stayed true to the classic black metal bands that were coming out of the Netherlands such as Urfaust, which the band itself gets its name from. The songs maintain a level of energy consistent with punk and hardcore while maintaining that classic black metal sound. Everything from the crisp tone from the guitar, aggressive guitar leads, the filthy distortion to the harsh dry vocals and punching drums all blending well together. There’s not a single instrument that isn’t pulling its weight. The Cowboys - Lovers in Marble EP Label: ? Location: Bloomington, IN, USA This is a band that I’ve been following for awhile now and musically have listened to them evolve with each release being better than the last, with Lovers in Marble continuing in tradition. The band has this 60s mod rock vibe with other songs taking a more somber approach. Aside from the music being digestible to anyone the lyrics are also very well written and have more depth than just being catchy. The Cowboys is a true modern classic and take on 60s rock and roll with a splash of ‘77 punk.
Intro:
Hi! My name is Przemek but everyone know me as Lenin, I live in Berlin and I'm owner of Hasiok Records. Record and cassette collector and Hausmeister :-) Touche Amore - Lament LP Label: Epitaph Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA I discovered this band in May 2011 after the release of the second LP. In July, I saw them for the first time with La Dispute, Dangers, Death Is Not Glamorous, Glasses in Berlin. Since then, I have seen them 20 times and once I was lucky enough to be at a secret concert on a boat in Hamburg for 70 people in October 2013. Every album coming out of the name Touche Amore is a hit. Lament is unfortunately not as good as the "Stage Four" album, but still very good. Teryky - Overcome LP Label: Hasiok Records / Moment of Collapse Records Location: Hamburg, Germany It feels a bit strange that my top 5 includes a band that I released on vinyl. Four people from Hamburg playing ravishing post metal with great lyrics. Love from the moment I first met them in January 2019. Lovely people. The War Goes On - Assisted Armageddon LP Label: Adult Crash / Hasiok Records Location: Copenhagen, Denmark After the first listening, I was very disappointed. Second album effect? Perhaps. Fortunately, after a while the album defends itself. There aren't as many hits as on the first album, but I still want to pogo in my room. I am very happy that the band played on the Hasiok Records 20th anniversary fest and then I was able to release this album on cassette. Jad - Wstręt EP Label: Self-Released Location: Warsaw, Poland Old Siekiera meets old Armia. Polish punk 1984 in 2020! TOP! Clairvoyance - Demo 2020 EP Label: Putrid Cult / Behind The Mountain / Caligari Records Location: Warsaw, Poland Young metalheads from Warsaw play old-school death metal. I'm happy that the band played their first show at the festival organized by me and friends.
Intro:
Here, Fede(rico), a costarican living in Denmark, part of the K-Town organiser group and long time supporter of the latinamerican hardcore and punk scene. I’ll give a totally personal and biased review of what I considered are the 2020 recordings and releases that left a mark on me, it was basically impossible write it without the close estime, knowledge and admiration that I have to some of the bands and people involved. Caras de Hambre (CDH) - Anarquia para Todos Label: Universe Zero / Rompiendo Bocinas / Spiritismo Rekords / Lógica Ciega / Fanzine Beneficio Interno / Rock And Lokuras Uff / Blue Spoon Records / Mix Tape Records / Hangar 18 Location: Panama I’ve waited for more than 28 years to listen to a recording that honors the energy that CDH transfers in live shows. CDH is one of those bands that in, around 30 years, have seen a long list of underground (panamanian) musicians and this recording is a tribute to each of them! Teatromocracia - Violencia en el poder Label: ? Location: San Jose, Costa Rica Honesty first! their members still remain as close to me as they line-up which I was part of 25 years ago, and it is because of that closeness that I was able to witness, from a long distance, the dedication, anger, and conviction they put on this recording. This recording was finished in the very last days of 2020 and contains only new material that has never been played live. Kasshuve - Grisablod Label: Adult Crash Location: Malmö, Sweden Being now part of the Øresund punk scene, I can't simply ignore a recording that made me forget all the classic bands from this particular part of the globe. Kasshuve made the impossible of bringing a fresh record that, somehow, can be traced back to the Scandinavian råpunk. Rat Cage - Screams From The Cage Label: La Vida Es Un Mus Location: Sheffield, UK A short, brutal, straight full-length LP made up of 12 songs!! I can think of few living bands that can deliver such brain impact, a band that must survive this imposed interim called 2020. Dropdead - Dropdead 2020 Label: Armageddon Label Location: Providence, Rhode Island, USA A record that reflects the frustration of humans of themselves, even if this recording feels different to what the band has done before, something put in evidence the watermark of Dropdead, a brief and ferocious recording can’t be spoiled by a long comment! Accidente - Caníbal Label: Self-Released Location: Madrid, Spain For this last recording Accidente found an unbreakable formula, one of them recorded and produced all the songs. The band keeps its unique protest caught in sweet melodic voices. Once again the band did not rest in shouting the anti-sexist message in a Spain drowned in an ignorant right and a hypocritical left (La mataron/They killed her!)
Intro:
Ars Punx. Berlin, Germany (originally form Moscow, Russia). I’m a traditional tattoo artist, I’m also doing some artworks for bands. I used to do vocals in thrash metal band. There are 5 releases from 2020 which I want you to check! 偏執症者 (Paranoid) - Out Raising Hell Label: D-Takt & Råpunk Records / Konton Crasher Location: Frösön/Östersund, Sweden This is the most great d-beat band of nowadays for me. They are keeping on doing great stuff. They are from Sweden by the way, not Japan. Black Pumas - Black Pumas Label: ATO Records Location: Austin, TX, USA Psychedelic soul band from Texas. Such a great release! Convince - Russian Jawbreaker Label: ? Location: Moscow, Russia Russian d-beat band. Solid sounds, all tracks are kicking the face. Unholy Night - Succubus Label: Reforestation Records Location: Moscow, Russia Adepts of Venom. Midnight worship with strong female vocals. Their shows are always awesome! Mauser - Self Titled Label: Hypodermic Records Location: Lviv, Ukraine The hardcore I love to listen to. Leeway worship
Intro:
Jasmine. A lover of plants, animals and horror movies based in Oakland. I play bass in Torso and Urban Sprawl (both of which have 7”s coming out in January!), sing in Screaming Fist and play guitar in Composite and Siamese Twins. 2020 really has me missing shows, tours and friends. Thankful for the music that got me through the quarantine... and even though my most listened to new albums of the year were Bad Bunny’s YHLQMDLG and El Ultimo Tour del Mundo ?here are more of my favorite releases this year. Bloodstains - Demo 2020 Label: ? Location: Orange County, CA, USA Down to the wire coming out just this month. This is some Rikk Agnew worship, which is my shit ? Riki - Riki Label: Dais Records Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA When Hot City Mini-Pack came out last year it was an instant classic for me. Riki by Riki really delivered. Just some great Italo-Disco inspired electro-pop/dark synth-pop. Dance around your living room. Milk - Bricks Label: Hysteria / A-Z Records Location: Nagoya, Japan Saw Milk at Damaged City 2019 and it was incredible. Explosive, catchy, hardcore with clean guitars. With their quick paced riffs, they’re often compared to Minor Threat. Stage dive off your couch. Fuga - Sin Frontera Sin Nación Label: Rat Planet / No Name Distro/Label / Junko Records Location: Santa Ana, CA, USA so lucky to share a coast with these guys because it means we usually get to see or play with them a couple times a year. More good ass hardcore punk from some Santa Ana sweeties. Sweeping Promises - Hunger for a Way Out Label: Feel It Records Location: Boston, MA, USA This got sent in the Siamese Twins group chat and I was sold in the first 30 seconds. Post punk that is angular yet melodic. Exceptional vocals and some hooks to get stuck in your mind grapes. |
AuthorPunk collective based in Hamburg and Berlin. Archives
January 2021
Categories |