Dead Pioneers: ‘Po$t American‘
“What you’re about to watch… is a nightmare“. So starts the video for new Dead Pioneers track ‘Po$t American‘ and what a fitting introduction to a song about the increasingly combative and cruel nature of American politics. Dead Pioneers are uncompromising in their political stance which permeates their music- frontman Gregg Deal using his brand of spoken word to catalogue the ills of the American state and global oppressive systems. This track is just over 2 minutes of articulate fury taken from the band’s forthcoming album of the same name. Deal says of the track: “This was written to be scathing, honest, saying the quiet thing out loud. As we look upon the United States political landscape, this is very much how we feel.” Dead Pioneers combine a DIY ethos with a mission to champion the rights of marginalised communities, including Indigenous, Black, Brown, Asian, LGBTQ+, and workers’ rights. Stream the single/pre-order album HERE.
State of You: ‘To the Core‘
Some heavy riffs now with UK hardcore act State of You and their new single ‘To The Core‘. The track explores the nature of the ‘modern rock star’ and how the concept of what it means to be an outrageous rock god has certainly changed over the years. As vocalist Steve Sitkowski comments, “In this new reality we are living in, the concept of the old rockstar pushing the boundaries of debauched behaviour is no longer coveted. ‘To The Core’ is about someone in a position of power continuing to take what they want without caring about the consequences“. It’s a furious track for the most part but there are moments of slow down and dreamy vocals but they are just a pause for breath before Sitkowski’s raw shout comes back in. ‘To The Core‘ appears on State Of You’s ‘On A Knife’s Edge‘ EP which you can purchase/stream HERE.
Dead Air: ‘Die‘
It’s been out since mid-Jan but we would be remiss to not include it here, just to make sure this catchy anthem hadn’t passed you by. South London alt-rock newcomers Dead Air have released their riff-heavy, anthemic new single ‘Die‘ and it’s certainly an ear worm. The track is taken from their EP ‘Elements’ out today. Commenting on the new single, front man Reuben says: “‘Die’ was the second half of a two part track—whether the first part comes out we’ll see, but ‘Die’ follows an individual who wakes up in the afterlife after taking their life. Confused and distraught by what they see, they reflect on the actions they have taken. Cursing themselves, they wish to return back to the world of the living.” You can stream this track and more from the band HERE.
Punchcard: ‘Stealing My Identity‘
A gloriously nostalgic and energetic track from San Diego’s Punchcard now- ‘Stealing My Identity‘. The band have been going since 2006 and there must be something in the water down there in SD because they sound as full of the vigour of youth than ever! A raucous and melodic skate punk vibe gives the fun, but the band’s lyrics are anything but frivolous. Their songs have something for everyone as they emphasise political fallout, social instability, and personal mistrust. Their new album ‘Soap Box Hero’ is out on 22nd February and promises to deliver a blistering mix of ferocious punk anthems and razor-sharp commentary. Stream the new single HERE.
snake eyes: ‘hug me‘
This is the song equivalent of a quadruple espresso and a berocca squirted into your eyes. From the opening jaunty riff, you’re in for just over 2 minutes of pulsing, frisky fun. But despite the overall bubbliness of it all, the song was written about a very serious topic. Commenting on the new single, vocalist Jim Heffy says: “hug me is a song close to my heart. i was signed off work with an anxiety disorder in late 2023 and it was one of the darkest periods of my life. I wrote these words when i was trying to make sense of what had happened to me and what was next. It’s a song about recovery, love and empathy. If you suffer with anxiety or depression, we got you. ‘hug me’ is here to give you some positive energy. share the love ❤” The song features guest vocals from Erik Heise of German punk chart toppers and touring buddies pabst. You can share the love for the track by streaming and sharing HERE.
Pinstock: ‘Left Me Hanging‘
And finally, LA’s Pinstock have released the first single from their forthcoming new EP our later this year. ‘Left Me Hanging‘ blends pop punk, hip hop and alt-rock to create a unique, finely crafted track that lets every member of the band showcase their skills (kudos to drummer Jeff Antons who does some great work on this song). The band were formed in 2019 and their forthcoming EP follows their debut album, ‘Juliet St‘ released in 2023. The band recently announced signing with LA based Wiretap Records, and with their sound getting tighter and stronger, it seems like 2025 might be a big year for Pinstock so, watch this space. Stream the track HERE.
That’s all for this week folks! Make sure you subscribe to Punk Rock Philosophy so you never miss our picks of the week!