It’s a bumper edition this week, bringing together some great releases from the first month of 2025! We’ve barely brought the baubles down off the Christmas tree and there’s already a throng of great music being put out, so if you want any chance of staying on top of it all, then your best bet is keeping up with Punk Rock Philosophy and our new release roundups!
The Unfit- ‘Big Boys‘
Old Seattle high school friends turned bandmates, The Unfit formed in 2012 and despite not living in the same state as each other any more, they can still put out an awesome record. Ominous and unsettling, the foreboding ‘Big Boys‘ seems ideally matched to the dark vibe of January. Taken from their forthcoming album ‘Disconnected‘ (out on 28th Feb), the single is available digitally accompanied by a lyric video which was animated by Leigh Riibe. And what’s more, the band are raising funds for a good cause- in partnering with Seattle non-profit record label Share It Music, a portion of the proceeds from the album are going to the band’s chosen charity, YouthCare. The Seattle-based organisation works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential. Find your streaming/purchasing options HERE.
Let Me Downs- ‘Broken Promises‘
Broken hearts, thwarted romance and trashed dreams…ahhh it’s all good pop punk fodder! And Washington trio Let Me Downs have nailed the bittersweet regret after a relationship crashes and burns with their new track ‘Broken Promises‘. Bassist and vocalist Paul Levesque explains the universally relatable themes of the song: “I wrote this song about a past relationship. It’s basically about letting your guard down and letting someone in. Putting everything you have and all your trust into a person and at the end of the day you end up getting burned“. It’s the opening track to the band’s new album ‘North by Southwest‘ (out today), their first full length since their 2021 album ‘Tacoma is For Lovers‘ and boy are they back with a vengeance! We had a taste of the album with previous single ‘One More Round‘ and both tracks showcase the heart, humour and energy of a band really hitting their stride. Stream/purchase ‘North by Southwest‘ HERE.
Shutdown- ‘What Are You Thinking?‘
New York hardcore band Shutdown have been around since 1994, and the fiery intensity of their youth has shown no signs of Shut(ting)down [get it?]. Nevermind…suffice to say the band’s new 6 track EP ‘By Your Side‘ is highly anticipated as it marks the first new material in 25 years. Following the release of the EP’s title track back in October, we’ve been treated to another sample from ‘By Your Side‘ with new single ‘What Are You Thinking?‘. Inspired by bassist Dion DeNardo’s son being diagnosed with autism, the song confronts and comes to terms with the challenges that this diagnosis posed for him. “That diagnosis taught Dion and even myself — because my oldest son is on the autism spectrum — to open ourselves up and learn more about who we are as people, especially compared to what we were taught when we were kids,” says vocalist Mark Scondotto. Against the blistering backdrop of the melodic hardcore score and Scondotto’s raw vocals, is a collection of poignantly confessional and emotionally honest lyrics about a father striving to do the best for his family and learn about himself in the process. It ends with all the band members’ children singing the chorus over an acoustic guitar- the next generation adding a powerful moment to a meaningful song. Get your listening options for the new EP HERE.
Hearts Apart- ‘I Hate the Summer‘
FINALLY a song about how the Summer sucks! So it’s not just me that thinks this…Vicenza-based punks Hearts Apart also agree that the Summer is not all sunshine and ice creams but can be a sweaty chore, where heartaches and losses are amplified amidst everyone’s giddy vacation vibes. Not only is this track bringing Summer’s happy reputation into disrepute but the band are doubling down by calling their forthcoming EP ‘Summer Bummer‘ (due for release in February). ‘I Hate The Summer‘ is infectiously catchy and even though the band claim to hate the season, the song’s bounce and energy is ironically Summer-y in tone. But it is all the better for it, a light pick me up in these long, dark January days. The band say: “I Hate The Summer is a song that encapsulates much of what Hearts Apart is about: punk rock, desperation, rock’n’roll, sadness, fun, nerdy vibes, irony, failure. Yes, we believe you can sweat away the darkness by dancing and crying at the same time, and this song is perfect for that.” Hearts Apart formed back in 2018 with a view to use punk rock to explore their existential unease and have released 2 EPs (‘Number One to No One‘ and ‘Bang! Wrong Again‘) which were combined to make an LP in 2023. It’s self deprecating, emotional and laugh-or-you’ll-cry punk rock about life, love and absurdity. Pre orders for ‘Summer Bummer‘ will be opening soon- keep an eye on their Bandcamp HERE.
False Heads- ‘Cracked‘
Something decidedly more raucous and raw now with Essex’s False Heads and their new single ‘Cracked‘, taken from their forthcoming EP of the same name (out on March 28th via No Fret Records). It’s frantic and heavy and shows a band that are no less pissed off than they were at the time of their second album ‘Sick Moon‘ release in 2022. This year marks ten years since the band formed, and are they pleased with the way the music industry is going? Are they fuck. It’s been a tough few years keeping things together in an increasingly challenging and indifferent industry, where working class voices find it difficult to survive and cut through. The band certainly have a lot of experience to sing about- the caustic ‘Cracked‘ comments on the glamorising of habitual and causal violence that ultimately erases or dismisses the real life impacts on people and communities who have no choice but to navigate through it. The rest of the EP covers similar themes of working class rage and modern misery- a soundtrack for the dystopian hellhole we’re all sliding into. In that respect, False Heads are a vital voice in the malaise- make sure you stream ‘Cracked‘ HERE.
Greer- ‘Had Enough‘
West coast indie-punks Greer have had a little break since their last release- 2021’s ‘Happy People‘. Now they’re back with their new single ‘Had Enough’, released via legendary punk label Epitaph Records. It’s short and sweet (just under 2 and a half minutes long) and a good re-introduction to the band who are back with renewed sense of creativity and nuance with sincere songwriting and alt-rock instrumentation. It’s not the sound of Summer, but it’s definitely the sound of Spring. Stream ‘Had Enough‘ HERE.
Combust- ‘Our Own Breed‘
Back to New York hardcore now (there’s something in the water on the East Coast obviously) with heavy 5-piece Combust. After announcing the release of their new album ‘Belly of the Beast‘ (out on 7th March) the band give us a taster with new track ‘Our Own Breed’– an uncompromising swing at the poseurs and interlopers who use the well established hardcore scene as a way of boosting their own cred or profits. Vocalist Andrew Vacante elaborates: “Older people who were never a part of this culture or scene try to come in and complain or use it to their benefit just for profit or a resurgence in their washed up pathetic past. Weird social media figures try to backpack off our shit just so they can boost their views and they hop in and hop out and use bands for numbers and clicks. This song is for the ones who reject them.” The tone of the track is combative and unequivocal with shout-along lyrics and a pulsing riff that’s there to melt faces and bang heads. There’s also guest vocals from Imposter’s Rory O’Neill, really rounding out the track. Stream the track HERE and pre order the new album HERE.
And just before you go, New Jersey’s polit-core band Scary Hours released their incisive new album ‘Can’t Contend‘ this month. Keep an eye on Punk Rock Philosophy to catch our interview with frontman Ryan Struck. Sign up for alerts so you don’t miss it!
Picture credits for banner image:
Hearts Apart picture- Alessandro Diguini
False Heads- Jason PD at Flick the Finger