Welcome back, discerning punk listeners! Here’s a few carefully selected tracks for your ears this week from hardcore to ska…a bit of something for everyone!
Shutdown- ‘By Your Side‘
We’re starting off with a hardcore song with a soft message- one of support and empathy. New York hardcore outfit Shutdown formed in Brooklyn in 1994 as mere teenagers and now, after 30 years together, they’ve got a brand new EP coming out in January. ‘By Your Side‘ is a 6 song release hot on the heels of last year’s offering ‘Still…Against All Odds‘ and the band have lost none of their fire since their inception three decades ago. Mark Scondotto on vocals, Steve Della Croce on guitar, Dion DeNardo on bass and Jimmy McCormack on drums are the consistent magic formula, consistent like their approach to hardcore- channelling positivity and optimism through their music. The title track from their upcoming EP is an uplifting song that ruminates on the need for support and emphasises the importance of offering a listening ear to those in our community who might be experiencing bad times. With suicide prevention and mental health education at the core of its message, ‘By Your Side‘ was inspired by the many people who struggle with the belief that someone will always be by their side. Pre order/pre save the EP HERE.
The Ratchets- ‘Late Stage Capital‘
Put your dancing (or skanking) shoes on now for this great track from NJ’s groovy ska punk outfit The Ratchets! ‘Late Stage Capital‘ is a banger of a track, a great homage to the 2-Tone ska of the 70s/80s as well as the US ska punk hybrid that exploded in the 1990s. Sounding like a lost track by The Clash, The Ratchets have pitched their ‘New Tone’ sound perfectly with a song that’s understated and laid back whilst being catchy as hell. The lyrics are as topical as ever, a poetic and articulate commentary on the current state of the economy and where it might be leading (“We’re eating out of cans/But we still rock and roll“). The band have released a string of digital singles such as ‘Street Manners‘ and ‘News on High‘ so make sure you check them out. The band are also joining New Jersey punk royalty Bouncing Souls at their Home For the Holidays festival at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park on 29th December. Your links for the single are all HERE .
The Menstrual Cramps- ‘Class War‘
Talking about the state of the economy and all that, here’s another topical track albeit one with a different edge. Bristol’s The Menstrual Cramps are back with a new track that is essential listening for the times we’re in…’Class War‘ is about the importance of joining a union and holding your workplace and peers to account. And despite the election of a Labour government in the UK, it seems our precarious workplace rights are on a knife edge, so the fight must not let up! And if you were in danger of letting your guard down, vocalist Emilia Elfrida and co are here to remind you: “Workers rights are being taken away from us at an alarming rate, and the best way to combat this is with collective bargaining and activism. It also comments on unions largely being controlled by old white men, and the push needed to move away from this. Women’s rights are workers rights. Always support strikers, and never cross a picket line!” Support strikers AND make sure you support punks as well…and you can do this by checking out the single and seeing the band on tour as they support WACO this month. Streaming options for the single are HERE and you can get tickets for the band’s live dates with WACO HERE.
Fightmilk- ‘Yearning and Pining‘
Seems like only yesterday Fightmilk were one of our picks with their track ‘That Thing You Did‘ …but if they keep bringing the goods, they’ll keep being on our list! The newest song from their upcoming album ‘No Souvenirs‘ (out on 15/11) is this short but VERY sweet ‘Yearning and Pining‘ which is about exactly what it says on the tin. Developing a crush, the churning tummy flips of infatuation and in a dramatic turn of events…being so breathless with lust you need a literal inhaler to keep breathing! Another use for my Ventolin identified! The new single is accompanied by an inventive DIY official music video shot entirely on a Ring doorbell camera. Hopefully the resident of the house was informed that this was going on outside their property in advance, or you can only imagine the confusion and terror. The album ‘No Souvenirs‘ is a riotous combination of riffage, pop hooks, angst, heartfelt emotions, wit, and wisdom crashed out with infectious, gleeful abandon. Streaming options for the single are HERE and you can pre order the new album HERE.
Bex- ‘Sum Kinda Syco‘
And finally, some feminist badass-ery with nu punk enfant terrible BEX. Her new track explicitly addresses an issue we all know exists- harassment in the music scene and a cavalier attitude some have to personal boundaries. BEX says “Every single lyric is true and meaningful. This track is a lyrical masterpiece, it’s so blunt and honestly comedic when you read the lyrics alone.” It’s also a track fit for an empowering punk disco, all heavy bass lines and BEX’s acerbic delivery. Visually, musically and lyrically creative, you cannot accuse BEX of being boring or half-assing life. Stream the track HERE.
That’s all for today folks but there’s some great releases in the pipeline over the coming months so stay tuned!
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