Hey there punk,

This right here is the blog I'll be posting reviews on from now on. Expect bursts of productivity brushing shoulders with lengthy periods of total apathy. At the time of this writing my main idea is to use Something I wrote today for the publishing of reviews for records I offer through Don't Buy Records, but perhaps I'll use it for other shit as well. Lord knows I can rant! Hell, I might be a vlogger in a year or two. I've been contemplating a career shift for a while now and my mom says I've got the looks for it so who knows?

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July (almost) 2020 Mailorder update: 12"s



Brainbombs - Cold Case Lp (Skrammel) (15 euro) 
Notorious noise rock gods release their 9th album. These Swedes have been driving riffs into the ground since the late 1980's. Since Souvenirs Brainbombs traded their brutal riffing in for a less direct approach, causing the listener disorientation by making zealous use of the wah-wah-pedal. Another unsettling record. Nice and sober artwork and on red vinyl to boot.







Cold Meat - Hot and Flustered Lp (Static Shock) (12,50 euro) 
After an unsung Ep and split with fellow Aussies Ubik, Perth's Cold Meat return with their first album. I heard the band's previous material, but didn't take the time to let their music settle in until Hot and Flustered - it took me until the Next Phase 12" to really appreciate Ubik too. Hot and Flustered delivers 10 tracks of angular punk rock with strong vocals. The lyrics are really good. It's a thin line between being a judgemental cynic or someone with an eye for inconsistencies and hypocrisy in his/her surroundings. Ashley fits in the latter category partly because her criticism is not just aimed at the world around her, but also at herself. Noircir et se noircir, remember? I love the artwork on this one, the thing looks great. Amazing record.

Hear it here: https://staticshockrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hot-and-flustered.

The Comes - No Side 12" (La Vida Es Un Mus) (15 euro)
Official reissue of this Japanese classic that dates back to 1983. There was a bootleg of No Side floating around a couple of years ago, which is better than paying a fortune for the original. However a proper rerelease is of course preferred. I've never been much of an enthusiast of Japanese hardcore because of the heavy metal leanings, but this Lp hit me upon first hear. Desperate vocals, thin guitar and spot on snare sound. The artwork and original insert are all reproduced nicely for this reissue. A classic done justice.





Es - Less of Everything Lp (Upset the Rhythm) (12,50 euro) 
London's Es appeared on the scene with a 4 song 12" on La Vida Es Un Mus, an odd format for that, but why not? Although I enjoyed Object Relations, a reference to psychotherapist Ronald Fairnbairn, it was a rather brief listen. In retrospect one can think of it as an appetizer for Less of Everything, their new album. This is a great record. The aggressive bass playing works wonders with the wandering key melodies. There's a slightly psychotic quality to Es' sound, listening to this record feels like looking through the eyes of someone dissociating and I mean that in the best way.




FOC - La Fera Ferotge Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Debut by this hardcore band from Barcelona. The pace on this one is high. The drumming and guitar work are impressive. La Fera Ferotge delivers fast, disjointed and chaotic hardcore punk that's catchy, bringing to mind 1980's Italian greats and GBR. The latter is not a surpise now I think about it, because FOC has a link with Absurdo and that band was heavily influenced by GBR. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same guy on six string. Although not necessarily a fan of the satyr artwork, it has its charm.





Fried E/M - Modern World Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Certain bands have me hooked in a matter of seconds. Fried E/M are such a band. Sloppy punk rock with snotty vocals. You can sing along before the song is over, because the lyrics are simple yet on point, kinda Ramonesy actually in the way that Cülo was Ramonesy. Blunt and loud drumming, catchy guitars, but to me the main appeal of Fried E/M is their vocalist and his words. It ain't easy to write something dumb, ya know. Several hits on this one, a real crowd pleaser.





Handle - In Threes Lp (Upset the Rhythm) (12,50 euro)
New and exciting art-punk band from London. The opening track has a crazy off-kilter rhythm bringing to mind some of the later the Ex material I've been investigating recently. At the heart of every Handle song is an odd and shambolic rhythm over which a bouncy bass line is delivered, creating the main melody. The Ex is not a bad reference for Handle overall although Handle seems more of an art than an anarchist collective. On some songs Handle's sound is also vaguely reminiscent of Kitchen's Floor. Background music this is not, but In Threes is a captivating listen from start to finish.




Irreal - Fi Del Mon Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
More hardcore punk from Barcelona. Most songs on Fi Del Mon open with a nice amount of feedback after which songs consisting of burling bass lines, galloping drums and guitar riffs with reverb and hoarse, also reverbed, vocals make themselves heard. Not every track on this record is fast, which keeps it dynamic. This is the type of hardcore I primarily associate with La Vida Es Un Mus, a sound previously mined by bands such as Destino Final, Glam and Una Bestiá Incontrolable, some of which Irreal shares members with. Not my bag per se, but good for what it is.
  
 



Isotope Soap - An Artifact of Insects Lp (Push my Buttons) (13 euro)
An Artifact of Insects is the first proper album by this Swedish outfit, but the band released a good number of records on a bunch of small labels already. Being named after a Geza X song might give you a clue of what you're in for. If not, let me fill you in. This is art-punk with synths or artful synthpunk done well, really well. The band has a futuristic vibe existing somewhere between being silly and dead serious, meaning you can do your robot dance to these tunes, but not without feeling a slight sense of discomfort. I like how Isotope Soap employs a consistent aesthetic. Performing in lab coats and wearing mouth caps on stage has a different connotation since the COVID-19 crisis and is further proof these guys are visionaries.



Kaleidoscope - After the Futures Lp  (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro) 
Restocks of this 2019 full album by New York's Kaleidoscope, which has Shiva Adanki of Deformity, Ivy and JJ Doll on guitar and vocals. I keep track of what Shiva is doing, because it's often good and always original. Kaleidoscope have long been experimenting and looking for a style and sound that fit them. They hit upon something on their 2017 Ep on D4MT. On After the futures Kaleidoscope delve that nerve further, fully coming into their own and creating one of my favorite releases of last year. The story it tells is dystopian. Think Discharge seen through the eyes of Philip K. Dick. It's almost intimidating how rich with ideas this record is both musically and lyrically, something that also comes through in the artwork. A booklet with lyrics and art done by Shiva is included. You can tell a lot of work went into this Lp and I'm still far from processing it all. I restock few releases, but it'd have been a crime to not get more copies of this one. Grab one if you haven't yet.

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Kohti Tuhoa - Ihmisen Kasvot Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro) 
Raw and urgent hardcore from Finland. Apparently this is the band's third album. I had no idea. Here's the thing with Finnish hardcore; I often love the music. It's raw, so raw. However I dislike the way the bands present themselves. Too many skulls, bullet belts, nuclear explosions. Furthermore their names are fucking impossible to keep apart for me, because Finnish isn't relatable to Dutch in the least so I haven't got a clue what they mean. Yes, I am shallow. Ihmisen Kasvot is a total hardcore banger from start to finish though. It's got riffs for days, awesome drumming and a vocalist with heart and intensity. I'm gonna have to investigate their previous material now.


Krig I Hudik - III Lp (Skrammel) (15 euro)
Krig I Hudik's 7" Ep's released in 2009 and 2010 caused quite a stir at the time. The group is named after a Missbrukarna song and has Rolf Revolt, former member of said group, on guitar and vocals next to Poffen of Totalitär, which already makes quite the lineup. Old guys playing classic hardcore punk that's raw and catchy. Don't mistake this for dad rock. These are guys who always stayed involved in underground music and are more punk than all the fashionable haircuts and studded leather jackets of you and your crew combined. Those into classic Swedish hardcore punk will not be disappointed by this one.
 


And another here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUZtIGcGvyw. 

Muro/Orden Mundial - Sonido De La Negación Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro) 
This split 12" teams up Colombia's Muro with Mallorca's Orden Mundial, both excellent hardcore bands in their own right. There are a lot of similarities. Both bands are in your face, sing in Spanish, have a buzz saw guitar sound and desperate vocals. Muro's drummer is a monster playing drum rolls in abundance, which gives the music an almost militaristic quality in places. Muro's side of the split encapsules total chaos, uncontrolled and direct. Orden Mundial sounds bigger and grinds to a slower pace than Muro on two of the tracks on their side. Unlike Muro, Orden Mundial is not on the verge of collapse. They're aiming for a more calculated mode of destruction. It makes for an interesting contrast between the two sides. No reason to pick one over the other, both bands deliver. Sebastiano Rosillo's artwork is cool as always. The extensive booklet that's included with this release looks awesome. It's a shame I can't read a single word of it, because it's in Spanish.


Permission - Organised People Suffer Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
Organised People Suffer is Permission's third 12". The band came from the ashes of No and sounds similar. High density hardcore. The drumming is intense, the riffs jagged. The steady drums give the guitars carte blanche, which they gratefully use. The vocals are almost barked. Lyrically everything is rather abstract, but it's safe to say they're not coming from a happy place. In some ways these songs remind me of Gag and Hoax, but Permission seems to bring more to the table somehow. I can see their music appeal to those appreciating Perspex Flesh. Ten condensed hardcore ragers with an overall claustrophobic vibe. The artwork is great and brings Nick Blinko to mind a bit. The record comes with a poster in the same style.


Primo! - Amici Lp (Upset the Rhythm) (12,50 euro)
Restocks of the debut record by this girl group from Melbourne. Primo! plays stripped down pop music combining simple but effective guitar chords with beautiful at times hypnotizing vocal harmonies and the occasional synthesizer. Comparison to bands like the Shop Assistants and Dolly Mixture would be both accurate as well as obvious and therefore cheap. These 10 tracks are all very laidback and sweet though not in a bubblegum or sugarcoated way. They have a dreamlike quality. I like how the songs sorta wander both musically and lyrically. Someone described Primo's music as 'gentle', which is well put.
 

Primo! - Sogni Lp (Upset the Rhythm) (12,50 euro)
Second Lp by this Melbourne outfit, which through the addition of Amy Hill is now officially a four-piece, consisting of one half of Terry. Sogni opens with a rather static and dramatic track called 'Things to do'. The rest of the record is more in line with what was heard on Amici. Although Sogni is still a dreamy pop record, it is more composed, more focused than the band's debut, a sign of growth one could argue. At heart Primo! remains the same gentle band however. These 12 tracks will appeal to those who've already fallen in love with these ladies as well as those whose heart skips a beat when hearing a good pop tune but are yet unfamiliar with Primo!

Hear it here: https://primocassetto.bandcamp.com/album/sogni-2.

Rat Cage - Screams from the Cage Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro) 
One-man-project of guitar player James Fidler who's based in Sheffield, UK. Rat Cage plays traditional hardcore punk that's fast and derives most of its power from the riffing. The drumming is relentless and the riffs have got drive. There's room for some guitar solo action here and there without things getting wanky. The singer's voice is hoarse and strained, which fits the style, but falls a bit flat after a handful of songs. The delivery is too monotonous for my tastes. The lyrics however are sharp and come from a working class perspective favoring the poor over the rich. Anger and despair run as constant themes throughout these 12 songs. Some spot-on observations about today's society are made, such as the following about the current media: 'surrounded by opinions that aren't making sense/coming from the mouths of those sitting on the fence', a sentiment anybody still watching television should be familiar with. I like the sloppy yellow on black artwork. If this group ever makes it to your town, go see them and buy them a drink. The insert makes no secret of James and his crew enjoying their beer.


Skiftande Enheter - Snubblar Genom Drommär Lp (Appetite) (13 euro) 
Latest release by this Swedish garage rock outfit. What separates Skiftande Enheter from the multitudes of bands crowding the genre for one is they sing in their native tongue. The organ furthermore gives the songs an extra layer most garage bands miss. Snubblar Genom Drommär seems more reserved than the band's previous output. The songs are very relaxed, making this record a great soundtrack to your first cup of coffee in your boxer briefs. The vibe is pensive, introspective almost. There's a sense of melancholia. My knowledge of Swedish is limited to say the least, so maybe I'm way off the mark, but it's the impression I get. Gotta trust your instincts when you've got nothing else, no? The guitar work on the flip has me think of the Hunches in places. The collage artwork on this record  looks great. I wish there was more info about the band and the songs included, but I guess a certain sense of mystery keeps one involved.



Slender - Time on Earth Lp (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro) 
Weirdo punk coming from the remains of the drug damaged brain of Keegan Dakkar. Slender's personnel played in some of my favorite hardcore bands about a decade ago, but this band is something completely different. The 9 tracks on this record are total downers. The songs have an amateur appeal like that of Kitchen's Floor and the most minimal and broken songs by Jim Shepard. They sound like home recordings done on a crappy boombox in a vermin infested New York apartment. The melodies are fragile and mainly come from an acoustic guitar. Although I wouldn't describe the songs as catchy, they're very captivating. Slender is comfortable with its own weirdness and doesn't mind wallowing in misery for the listener's enjoyment. Definitely a grower, but there's something going on here that's worth your time.
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Soakie - 12" (La Vida Es Un Mus) (12,50 euro)
New hardcore outfit that's half from the land down under, half from New York. Soakie delivers 7 mid-paced stompers on their vinyl debut. This 12" sounds urgent most of all because of Summer's vocals. She moves from girly singing to odd squealing to gnarly screaming over the duration of single songs with what seems like no effort. It's common in hardcore to pick a vocal style and stick to it. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I really appreciate how Soakie has a different approach. The lyrics are hostile to square and straight society. The outsider is celebrated. Subject matters include hating the rich, the over representation of men in punk, gender politics, which are labeled as 'boring rationality' in 'What's your gender'. I especially like the line: 'I think I have every right to walk myself alone at night'. How could one disagree? Soakie's aim is confrontation and shaking the listener's ideas in a way not unlike Special Interest. The artwork illustrates this nicely with its references to bondage and (animal) roleplaying.





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July (almost) 2020 Mailorder update: 7"s



Algara - Enamorados Del Control Total Ep (La Vida Es Un Mus) (6 euro) 
Post-punk made by two anonymous Spaniards, who both pose masked on the cover of this Ep. I love the picture. It creates a wide range of possibilities for the songs on the vinyl. Musically Crisis is a good point of reference although Algara uses a drum computer instead of a drummer of flesh and blood. The driving bass lines on these four tracks are solid. The vocals remind me of the Secret Prostitutes, quite a surprise, but it works really well. It does raise the question what Algara's about. Is this an anarchist duo trying to incite a worldwide revolution through music or two friends writing silly songs and goofing around? I don't speak Spanish so I can't say, but I do know the tunes are good.


 Hologram - Build yourself up only to be brought down again and again Ep (La Vida Es Un Mus) (6 euro)
Because of the nondescript band name Washington DC's Hologram went unnoticed by yours truly until I found out the band comes from the same deranged brain as Closet Christ. That brain belongs to Brendan Reichhardt, a force in DC hardcore since last decade. Build yourself up so many times only to be brought down again and again - although far from succinct, a great title - delivers four hardcore tracks mining the same kinda territory as Permission on the other end of the Atlantic. This is great misanthropic, ugly and gnarly hardcore. The weird atmospheric outros and intermissions are great, elevating this Ep to more than a couple of songs. My only complaint is there's no lyric sheet included. I'd be interested to read what Brendan has to say. Apart from that the artwork is cool. The back of the cover has me think of the first Scratch Acid Ep, a compliment.


Lux - New Day Ep (La Vida Es Un Mus) (6)
This Barcelona band is new to me, but they already released a full-length in 2017. Somehow that didn't make it onto my radar. Lux plays bouncy and catchy punk rock with a steady simple drumbeat. A dbeat perhaps? I'm still too dumb to tell. The write-up on the La Vida Es Un Mus website pulls the UK82 card so if that floats your boat, there you go. There's a bit of a post-punk vibe coming from the bass because of the flanger effect used. These four songs are real crowd pleasers, all extremely pogo-friendly and enjoyable. This band should appeal to those into La Misma, although Lux are a bit more direct. The band is far from reinventing the wheel here, but I never understood what the point to that would be anyways. If it does the trick, why change it? The artwork is nice, although the coloring gives off a bit of a hippy vibe, which rubs the teenager in me the wrong way, but I've got a mortgage now.


Rata Negra - La Hija Del Sepulturero Ep (La Vida Es Un Mus) (6 euro)
Not the first record I hear by this Spanish trio, but the first I gave close listen. The two songs here have pop sensibilities and are catchier than... let's not go there... they're catchy. Subtle and well-crafted. Noteworthy is the surf guitar that has a slight goth tinge, a sound taken to another level by the haunting yet playful keys. The artwork has a gothic vibe too. No surprise, considering the title of this 7" translates to 'the gravedigger's daughter'. Musically Rata Negra can be listed next to recent Spanish punk rock favorites like Juanita Y Los Feos, which Violeta also sang for, and Los Coprolitos. The A-side is an old Spanish poem put to music and the flip a cover of a long lost synth pop song, making this release a single in the traditional sense. A very enjoyable listen that makes me want to return to their earlier stuff.

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July (almost) 2020 Mailorder update: Tapes



Men and health - Devil in a suitcase/ Jesus in a pocket Tape (Self released) (5 euro)
Catchy and playful punk rock from Copenhagen, Denmark. Men and Health consists of two guitar players, a bass player/singer and a drum computer. What makes this group is the care-free melodic guitar playing that brings to mind 1980's Californian favorites such as the Adolescents and Angry Somoans in combination with Peter's sarcastic vocals. Men and Health shows a lot of versatility on this cassette. Songs like 'Stay in drugs' and 'I can see my house from here' have a nervous caffeine induced vibe and are rather silly. Other tracks like 'Jesus in a Pocket' and 'Smoof Operator' are more relaxed and might be the sonic equivalent to being high on a warm summer day. The lyrics make no secret of these guys' love for drugs. 11 songs on this one so plenty of bang for your buck and an entertaining listen throughout.  




Hear the two tapes that are combined on this one here: 

https://menandhealth.bandcamp.com/album/devil-in-a-suitcase.

No Nose - Covid-19 Tour 2020 Tape (Self released) (5 euro) 
Copenhagen's No Nose describe themselves as a scifi punk rock trio. The 12 songs on this tape indeed have a futuristic vibe reminiscent of Tumor Warlord although I like No Nose better. In all tracks No Nose's rhythm section creates a driving foundation over which Josefine plays damaged synths and Peter - yes, the same guy as the one in Men and Health - screams and speaks  at times joined by Josefine. Although both the apocalypse and human extinction are topics covered here, it's all done in a fun-loving way. No Nose don't take themselves very seriously, but you already knew that. They're called No Nose after all. When No Nose slows down, the band creates dragging downer dirges not unlike some AmRep bands, but the sound is obviously different. I'd label these songs space jams, if that wouldn't bring up the association with the hit movie starring Michael Jordan, which I, by the way, loved as a kid. Definitely different and therefore worth a hear.

Hear one half of the tape here: https://nonose.bandcamp.com/album/no-nose.

And three more songs, also on the tape, and now released on 7":  https://nonose.bandcamp.com/album/ep.
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April 2020 Mailorder Update: 7"s


Blu Anxxiety - Baptized in Space 7" (Toxic State) (6 euro)
New York’s Blu Anxxiety is a three-piece consisting of drum computers, synthesizers and a singer. This is a very 1980's sounding single. To me the A-side is the winner. I’m less charmed by the flip which is too over the top for me. One of the band members used to play in Anasazi, which is not a bad reference. I can see people into Richard Papiercuts lose their shit over this single too. The artwork showcases men in blue robes on a moon landscape, bringing to mind the decorum of the Neverending Story, which probably wasn’t intended.

Hear the thing here: https://bluanxxiety.bandcamp.com/album/baptized-in-space.

Brandy - Clown Pain 7" (Total Punk) (6 euro) 
Two more tracks by this New York three-piece. I already wrote about their 12” on Monofonous Press so I’ll keep this short. 'Clown Pain' has a nice groove and cool dual vocals. The flip is a broodier and more threatening song. Both cool tracks. Time for these dudes to release a proper full-length.


Hear the thing here: https://brandynewyorkcity.bandcamp.com/album/clown-pain.




Brutal Birthday - Ep (Total Punk) (6 euro) 
I confused this band with Factoryman, a Homostupids side project. WRONG! Brutal Birthday are paying hommage to Cleveland's finest, but are from Italy themselves. I was surprised how good this record is. Punchy and sloppy punk rock. What's not to like? I need to track down their other stuff!


Hear the thing here: https://brutalbirthday.bandcamp.com/album/commotion-7.




Civic - Selling Sucking Blackmail Bribes 7" (Total Punk) (6 euro) 
Scummy punk rock with an emphasis on the rawk! Lots of wild guitar work like some of the Aussie greats. These recordings seem a little rougher around the edges than their 12" on Anti-Fade, but that works fine. Lyrically Civic are stronger than most bands playing punk which is a big plus in my book.


Hear the thing here: https://civicivic.bandcamp.com/.
  




Closet Christ - You're In My World Now Ep (Lumpy Rex) (5 euro) 
Hardcore punk band from Washington, DC. The guy doing drums was probably a lumber jack in a previous life. Maybe he still is? He knows one pace and that's fast. The 6 songs on this Ep are short, angry and mean, the vocals nasty. This band breathes misanthropy and hostility. Little info to be found on this release, but the music speaks for itself.

Hear the demo, of which this is the vinyl pressing, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbp_9FQuzd4.


 


Curleys - Ep (Total Punk) (6 euro) 
Nothing I knew about this band before picking this record up. They're from Florida so I'm guessing they're local heroes and/or friends of Rich. Unlike most Total Punk 7"s this is not a single, but an Ep containing 6 songs. The vocals bring to mind the muppet-like vocals I love in Predator. The drumming is simple, the dual guitar work rad. Punchy and catchy punk rock. Very nice!



Hear the thing here: https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t.
  



Eke Buba - Ep (Lumpy Rex) (5 euro) 
Hardcore punk from Zagreb, Croatia, in Croatian... I think? It’s a feather in Lumpy’s cap that he’s releasing bands from different parts of the world that probably wouldn’t reach the audience they now do, had their record not been released on Lumpy Rex. Eke Buba plays some really sloppy punk. I love the mess these songs are: blunt blown out bass, gnarly guitar and shrill cymbals. To say the mix is rough around the edges would be an understatement, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I bet this band is a blast live.



Hear the thing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV5FzUXG-uY.
 
Haram - Where were you on 9/11? Ep (Toxic State) (6 euro) 
To answer the question, I was in social studies if I remember correctly, but memory is a tricky thing. Haram is a hardcore band from New York singing in Arabic. When I first heard of this band I considered them a shtick. In fact I thought they were out to bait the public like Fearless Iranians from Hell in the’80s. I wrongfully jumped to conclusions for this band has a personal story to tell and a sound to match it. Their brand of hardcore broadens the diversity of USHC, something about their sound strikes me as European somehow. The bass playing on this Ep is awesome. Translation of the lyrics are included. They read like haiku's and are political in nature. T he artwork of the sleeve and insert are top notch. Hats off to Toxic State once again! 

Hear the thing here: https://haramharam.bandcamp.com/album/where-were-you-on-9-11.

Heavy Metal - Too Oz 4 I.T. Ep (Total Punk) (6 euro)
Two-piece from Berlin that's already got FOUR albums under its belt, one of which a double Lp. It's an open door to raise questions about quality when a band produces this much music in little time, so how could I not bring the subject up? Done! Although I own Heavy Metal's first two albums and like 'm, I feel like this format suits the band better. Just songs. No filler, all killer as the cliché goes. The vocals are obnoxious and in your face, the music is silly and unpredictable. Who knows, maybe I'll buy that 2xLp at some point.



Hear the thing here: https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-ep.

The Inhuman - Ep (Lumpy Rex) (6 euro)  
The sticker on the sleeve plugs this record as 'Crude Bedroom Drug Punk from Tucson, AZ, circa 1983'. Two songs are offered, both dark and captivating. There's a background story included, which, if true, makes this a beautiful document. The songs work by themselves, but the context they're wrapped in takes this release to a whole other level. Highly recommended!

Hear one song here: https://soundcloud.com/lumpyrex/the-inhuman-we-will-build. 


 
IV - Ep (Total Punk) (6 euro)
This band is new to me. Turns out it's got Drew of Brain Tumors and Citric Dummies in its ranks, which make me sad there's no lyric sheet included. That guy writes funny lyrics. IV - as in Ivy or HIV without the 'H' - delivers four catchy punk rock tunes with a garage bend on this Ep. Simple yet effective. I hope this won't be the last thing we hear by these guys.



Hear the thing here: https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-7.



Judy and the Jerks - Music for Donuts Ep (Thrilling Living) (5 euro)
These kids did a couple of tapes before they made the move to vinyl. I read much praise for the cassettes, but this is the first time I hear their music. Judy and the Jerks play chaotic and playful hardcore punk that's a shitload of fun. Everything about this release breathes we're dealing with a bunch of friends who have a common love for punk, to which they now contribute together. This Ep shows a lot of heart and is done by kids who clearly don't take themselves too seriously. Fun, fun, fun as that one band used to sing. My only complaint is that the singer is named July in real life so why not July and the Jerks, huh?


Hear the thing here: https://thrillingliving.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-donuts.



Kaleidoscope - 2017 Ep (D4MT Labs) (6 euro) 
This New York hardcore band toured Europe with Nosferatu last year and both were devestating live. I've been following this band from the beginning. Kaleidoscope has been sailing hardcore into unchartered territory from the get go with mixed success, but that's part of the excitement. Their latest Lp is their magnum opus in my opinion, but this Ep is really good too. 'Scorched Earth' is an unexpected jam and great song. Shiva writes intelligent political lyrics. This Ep was released on the band's own label and looks great. Kaeidoscope are a special band in my book.


Hear the thing here: https://d4mtlabsinc.bandcamp.com/album/kaleidoscope-2017-7.


Knowso - Like a Buzz 7" (Total Punk) (6 euro)
This three-piece contains Nathan Ward, whose artwork is to be found on many a record on my shelves at this point. Nathan's drawings are great, but his band is worth checking out too. Herky jerky punk rock with a Cleveland flair of weirdness. The vocals remind me a bit of Perverts Again, because they're monotonously spoken too. The lyrics are stoopid and funny. Was there ever a better line to end a song on than 'You belong in a bin'? Furthermore I learned some new terms such as 'brain blink' and 'frozen hair interrogator'. Not quite sure what they mean though.



Hear the thing here: https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/like-a-buzz-7.
 
Musk - Animal Husbandry 7" (Total Punk) (6 euro)
First single by this rock band from Oakland that seems majorly influenced by the Scientists as well as AmRep bands you do like. It took Musk two albums before they dared to thread the path of the 7", but the time has come. This band's got a great rhythm section. The bass lays down the riffs and gives the guitar(s) room to do whatever. I love the insect-like sounds coming from the six string on the A-side. Great band, two dark and intense songs that leave you wanting more.


Hear the thing here: https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/animal-husbandry.

Pinocchio - Ep (Toxic State) (6 euro) 
Not much I knew about Pinocchio before picking this Ep except that Mary Jane of the late great Vexx is on vocals. Anybody who ever heard or saw that band live knows Mary Jane is a force to be reckoned with. In Pinocchio she's teamed up with some Toxic State veterans. Musically Pinocchio is a rock band. Members are or have been in groups as diverse as Crazy Spirit, Cheena, Slender and Anasazi, which give you an idea of their musical scope. This is a mature record, with strong songs - no less than 8 - which has me hope for a 12" later this year.


Hear the thing here: https://pinocchio1.bandcamp.com/releases.




Pobreza Mental - Ya No Me Pertenezco Ep (Toxic State) (6 euro) 
Raw hardcore punk in Spanish tongue from New York City. The straight forward drumming and simplicity of the songs bring to mind the original appeal of Crazy Spirit. The vocals are intense. Buzzsaw guitar not unlike some of the Mexican hardcore bands Dave Rata, who sings and plays guitar in this band, and Yecal, who’s still in Mexico, have been involved in.



Hear the thing here: https://pobrezamental.bandcamp.com/album/ya-no-me-pertenezco.



Protomartyr & Spray Paint - Irony Prompts A Party Rat Ep (Monofonous Press) (6 euro)  
Often listed as a split Ep, this record is actually a collaboration between the two groups. The A-side sounds most like a Spray Paint song, but John Casey is doing vocals. The reverse applies to the flip; it sounds like Protomartyr track, but Corey speaks his random observations over the music. This Ep is an interesting exploration into what the combined sounds of these two groups would bring about. The result should appeal to anybody into the sounds of either.

Hear the thing here: https://spraypaintmonofonus.bandcamp.com/album/protomartyr-spray-paint-irony-prompts-a-rat.


Q - Secqnd Ep (Lumpy Rex) (5 euro)
Second Ep by this hardcore punk band from St. Louis. It seems to be a returning theme to come up with song titles that start with the letter ‘Q’ or to insert the letter ‘Q’ where there’d normally be a vowel. Example: one song is called ‘DQQr’. The odd thing is the lyrics, altough arguably a bit by the book, are pretty serious. Subjects include depression, power abuse, and anxiety among others. This Ep delivers 6 tracks that should get (circle) pits moving and knucklehads moshing. The band shifts gear in most song and the singer’s voice is incredibly hoarse, giving the songs more urgency. Bound to be a blast live and probably cool kids to hang and skate with.

Hear the thing here: https://singlerussiancuties1.bandcamp.com/album/secqnd.

Suck Lords - True Lords Ep (Edger) (5 euro)
Perhaps my favorite USHC band at the moment. Fast, sloppy and pissed. Generally I don't like bands this fast, but I like the Suck Lords a lot. So much in fact, that I'm typing this wearing a Suck Lords T-shirt. Go figure! 8 songs of which none reach the two minute mark. Half don't even make it to one. Simply GREAT!


Hear the thing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oChUinE_a8.





Sweet Tooth - Sugar Rush 2009 Ep (Lumpy Rex) (6 euro) 
Originally released on cassette in 2009, this Ep celebrates the first release by Sweet Tooth, a St. Louis hardcore band that consisted of four youngsters among whom the Meyer brothers. These were Sweet Tooth's first recordings. The band would release two excellent 7"s and a flexi on the now defunct Cowabunga records after, which seem relatively unknown despite everyone’s boner for Lumpy and the Dumpers. All members of the band wrote a short epitaph for this release reminiscing the time they were fucking shit up together on and off stage. I’ll summarize: Sweet Tooth played hardcore punk as fast and loud as they could and made sure things happened at a show. Reading the booklet makes me sad I wasn’t there to witness it all live, be part of what was happening, but we do now have this document chronicling a moment in hardcore. In that sense this Ep is a reminder of the possibilities of four kids picking up an instrumant and starting a band. Members moved on to form later greats such as Lumpy and the Dumpers, BB Eye, Rüz, Rik & the Pigs and Mongoloid.


Hear the original demo, which I own on cassette - yes, I'm that cool, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kjF0tBA76o.

Tyvek - Changing Patterns of Protective Coating Ep (Selfreleased) 
After a couple of years of relative silence Detroit’s art punks are back with a new Ep containing four new tracks, all laidback and free of self-consciousness. The second on side-A is an instrumental that continues on the flip so arguably there are only three songs, but the grooves don’t lie. ‘We’re back’ sounds so familiar I thought it had been released before, but this doesn’t seem to be the case. I guess that shows how familiar their sound and songwriting has become to me yet I’m not the least bit bored by either. This record was released by the group itself and has the look of their early singles, a cool touch.



Hear the thing here: https://tyvek.bandcamp.com/album/changing-patterns-of-protective-coating.


U-nix -  Ep (Lumpy Rex) (5 euro) 
Restocks of this debut Ep by Portland's U-Nix, which includes John Cardwell of NASA Space Universe fame on guitar. Dark and angry hardcore done the way I like it. Wild and chaotic drumming, a rumbling bass, good guitar riffs and a singer who expresses his disgust with the world through every line. At times he makes me think of the singer of Holy Shit! U-Nix is among my favorite current hardcore bands. For those on board I still have copies of their demo tape - probably my favorite release by the group - and 12" on Feel It Records.



Hear the thing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN5Kp7-vS-Q.
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