Here comes the Summerrrrrrrrr! Hope you are all faring well in this heat- here at Punk Rock Philosophy we are sweating our metaphorical balls off. BUT, what is helping us get through the sweatfest is a fantastic selection of punk rock gems that we have lovingly curated for you. Have a gander below…
Sweet Gloom- ‘Loudmouths‘
We’re thrilled that California’s Sweet Gloom are back with a new track – ‘Loudmouths‘- and it has that magic Sweet Gloom formula of fast-paced punk rock a la the Ramones with all the harmonies, melody and pop sensibilities of the best 50s and 60s doo wop. “The song puts the listener smack dab in the middle of a tumultuous relationship,” said vocalist/guitarist Jaake Margo. “You ask your partner: if we argue this much, are we ever gonna make it? Are we soulmates or are we destined for failure?” The band are signed to Asian Man Records and their debut album ‘Reverie’ from 2023 got us at Punk Rock Philosophy hooked on their sugar-and-spikes blend of punk and retro pop. ‘Loudmouths‘ is out and ready to stream now.
MEGG- ‘IDC‘
Fancy an anthem of defiance to scream along to in your bedroom/garden/office/anywhere? Look no further than the new track by LA’s enfant terrible MEGG. Known for her gritty blend of pop hooks and punk rock attitude, MEGG writes anthems for the loud, the loyal, and the unapologetically real. Her new singe ‘IDC’ sees her give the one finger salute to fakers, posers and general assholes: “This is my proclamation to the world and the last single I’m releasing from the EP I’m dropping in the Fall.” says MEGG. “Its anthemic, its loud and it’s crazy fun – we really didn’t hold back on this one”. And if you’re at the Vans Warped Tour this weekend, you can see MEGG perform this live as she takes to the stage of the iconic punk festival. Stream ‘IDC‘ on your preferred streaming platform and keep an eye out for her upcoming EP, slated for release in the Autumn.
Liquid Mike- ‘Claws‘
This band know what they’re doing. Not just musically, but by putting footage of dogs doing tricks in their video for new single ‘Claws’, they are almost guaranteeing to endear themselves to us all. Well played Liquid Mike, well played. It’s just as well then that the actual song itself more than delivers, a riff-driven ode to sleeplessness and being stuck in limbo. The track is taken from their forthcoming album ‘Hell Is An Airport’ due out on 12th September. And the title isn’t a bleak comment on the anxiety of modern air travel but “uses the metaphor of airport travel to stand in for the bleak liminal space between where you are and where you want to be”. The band will be joining legends the Descendents on tour this Summer. All the links you need to pre order the album and stream their tracks can be found HERE.
Cheerbleederz- ‘I Deserved Better’
Another cathartic singalong now with the new track from London indie punk trio cheerbleederz. ‘I Deserved Better’ is taken from their upcoming EP ‘Prove Me Wrong’ released on 5th Sept via Alcopop! Records. Commenting on the track, guitarist Kathryn Woods says: “‘i deserved better’ is about knowing your self worth, and recognising when you’re in a rut. The chorus doesn’t even have any real words, but sometimes you don’t need em!” Never has shouting ‘ba ba baba, ba ba BAAAAAA’ during the chorus been so much fun! This is a great track and makes us really look forward to the EP. The single is the first new material from the band since the release of their critically-acclaimed 2022 debut album ‘even in jest’, On their return, the three piece say: “It’s been a really tough 12-18 months for cheerbleederz—we’ve had a lot of life thrown at us, but the band continues to bring us joy and we’re pleased to be connecting with people through our wider community. <3”. Streaming the new track HERE.
The Manic Standstill feat. Nicolette Vilar- ‘Go Away‘
Los Angeles-based band The Manic Standstill continues their streak of anthemic, heartfelt releases with the arrival of their latest single ‘Go Away‘- an upbeat and melodic duet featuring Nicolette Vilar of the beloved LA pop-punk band Go Betty Go. This duet was a long time coming, the idea of the collaboration going back a few years and in the year 2025 it has finally come to fruition! And this bouncy, sunny piece of power pop punk is well worth the wait! The result is a resonant and relatable song about two people in a relationship—whether romantic, platonic, or familial—caught in the push-and-pull of adventure versus stability. Stream the single HERE.
Half Dizzy- ‘Fade Away‘
We’re picking up the pace a bit now with this rollicking track by Long Island punks Half Dizzy. It’s delivered at breakneck speed and taps directly into that laid back summer vibe where life is more carefree and your days are spent making memories (or sweating and fanning yourselves in our case). It’s certainly a Summer anthem, driven by some impressive drumming by Mason Cohen and and bass playing of Mina Maziekis. Add this to Summer road trip playlists or for when your backyard BBQ needs a little pick me up. Stream the track HERE.
Slutch- ‘No Way Out‘
And finishing on a heavier note, we bring you the new EP from hardcore band Slutch. This 4-track EP is released via First Strike Records, the label started started in the the 90s by Alan Woods of Alans Records, a label woven in to the hardcore punk scene in the North West of England. Slutch are the first new band on the label for 33 years, so clearly there is something special about them and when you listen to ‘No Way Out‘ you’ll agree. It is of note that they are YOUNG- the band are comprised of three young skateboarders – James, age 17, on guitar and lead vocals, Lydia, age 17, on drums and Gracie age 12, on bass and vocals. This is obviously noteworthy and a testament to their tenacity and commitment to the DIY punk scene, but make no mistake… this is an impressive EP for anyone to put out whatever their age. The band write their own material and cover some pretty solemn topics such as mental health and political issues. Slutch are also putting in the hours honing their craft live, having played around 40 gigs which is a particularly impressive number when you figure out how many live music venues would be off limits to them due to their age. If you want to support the next generation of dedicated, talented and energetic DIY punks then check out Slutch’s EP and keep an eye out for what they do next. Listen/buy HERE.
That’s all punks! Hope there was something above that was to your taste. As always, if you want to support the bands, pre-save, buy, share, stream and rave about them!
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