Tag Archives: Garage Punk

THE MEN: Buyer Beware

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Since Friday morning, I’ve been solidly listening to the new record by The Men. I didn’t even know a new record was coming out! Now, I’ve loved this band for a long time. My uncle and I both adore this band so this release took us both by surprise. They’re a band that blow your mind with every listen and having an unexpected new record land was just what I needed.

It was their third record, Open Your Heart that had me hooked and I still stand by it being one of the best records that Sacred Bones have ever released. It’s a record that is so effortlessly slick and as much as I hate clichés- it is utterly timeless. It’s one of the most enthralling records of modern times, and it turns out- The Men do not make terrible records. Ever.  I love this band because no genre can define them. I guess at the heart of it all, they’re a Punk band but they’re beyond anything and everything. They are criminally underrated. With their new record, they’re firmly justified yet again why they are one of the greatest bands ever. They just have this way of creating records that fit exactly what’s going on. The world is on its arse due to world leaders being absolute idiots- what better record to soundtrack this all than the new record by The Men?

They’ve been going for I think, 18 years now and there’s no way this band can ever stop. A world without their music would be dull and meaningless, and yes, I know the world is cruel and cold right now- but not everyone is a twat. The music they make is like a guidance or a call to fighting back, and that’s what we need. If you’ve got the privilege of having a platform where you can voice this and be heard- use it. And that’s exactly what they’ve done with this record. Every song on this record feels like a kick in the teeth and is made to burst those little eardrums of yours- and it’s never sounded or felt so good. They’ve got that snarly Dead Boys tone right through the record and I think it really comes alive on At The Movies. This record is heavenly. It’s loud, it’s important and it’s The Men at their very, very best. They’ve made some killer records in their time and if I was ever in the position to move Open Your Heart from being my favourite- Buyer Beware would be my number one.

The title song on the record again sounds like Dead Boys and I think that may be part of the reason as to why I’ve fallen in love and into a deep obsession with this record. It’s got everything from that era of Punk thrown into it, and maybe it’s the record they were always supposed to make? That sounds odd because every record they’ve released is a masterpiece, but there is something about Buyer Beware that feels different. It feels bigger and it feels like the kind of record that could and should win them new fans, and make us old ones love them even more. In short, it’s a bloody remarkable record. The way Nothing Wrong goes right into Control should be a crime for how slick and wonderful it is. What a move!

I reckon there will be songs I play more than others but for now, I’m listening to it solidly in chronological order and that’s rare. Normally I listen to something a few times then hit shuffle. Not with this record. I think to get the most of it, you just have to listen to it over and over, and soak up every word. Take in every note. Let every guitar sound feel like a kick to the ribs, let the drums feel like someone is smashing your body into a wall and let the bass guide you wherever it is you need to go. The songs are loud, fast, and vital. This is THEIR ultimate record. At the moment, I think PO BOX 96 is the one that’s grabbing my attention the most, but the more I listen- the more I change my mind slightly. Get My Soul is a ride of a song, Control is just a work of art. There are no bad moments on this record. The only downside? Maybe it could last longer. Maybe the song Charm could last 5 minutes or 10. It’s the band at a gentler moment, and my god what a song it is. That peaceful side of the band comes out in rare moments and when it does, it sounds SO good. It’s a beauty of a song. Charm is one of those songs that will stick with you for a long time. I really hope this record brings them over to the UK because they are a band I’m just dying to see live. You just know it’d change EVERYTHING. The music means the world to me now as is, but to see them live? That’d be something else.

The Men have again created another masterpiece, and they are showing no signs of ever slowing down. The world needs this band. This record is all about being resilient and fighting back; it’s about standing up and not backing down. That’s the kind of noise we need right now. Will the world listen? Who knows, but at least we’re not alone.

COUCHGAGZZZ: GOSPORTS!!!

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Some great things have come out of Italy: my guy Del Piero, mozzarella (that hurt to type because I’m vegan and my god I miss mozzarella!), Litfiba and just the country in general is delightful (okay was because the government like everywhere else in the world, is shit!) There are some incredible bands from Italy too, and one in particular is couchgagzzz. Their only fault is their obsession/love for Man United but hey- we all have our faults. The band are from Bari (my dad’s side of the family are from Puglia, so maybe it’s not all so bad!)

Last year the band released their debut record, GOSPORTS. The band have described themselves as being “obsessed with steroids and sports.” And you know what? Absolutely checks out when you listen to the record. This is the kind of record you’d listen to whilst at the gym, and I think I’ve now found my new favourite band to listen to whilst I work out.

The band have also been influenced by Australian rock bands such as Gee Tee, and honestly, they’d fit in perfectly next to bands like The Chats, CHEAP-SKATE and Gee Tee. They’ve got that Pub Rock sound nailed, but there’s also this excellent 60s Psych Rock feel which is the most apparent on Bad Holes. The record is only 8 songs long, but those 8 songs matter. Every single song shows why this band HAVE to be heard. You want fast Punk songs? They’ve got you covered. It’s like being in a questionable bar where years’ worth of beer has ended up on the floor and walking on it to get to the bar is like an obstacle course. The band formed only in 2021, and the debut came out last year. In that short amount of time, they have genuinely created something worth listening to and becoming obsessed with. Again, they’re a band you need to see live. There’s something about their sound that just screams it. The songs are fast and heavy, and you’ll have them on repeat for days. Hours. Months. Eternity.

They may say that Man United are the strongest team in the world (which we all know they aren’t!) but this band are one of the strongest around. To have perfected a sound like this in just one record- what else could they possibly do next? Probably take over the world to be honest, and rightfully so.

couchgagzzz are a solid Punk band with something to say. They’ll have you hooked with just one listen, and before you know it- you too are hooked on steroids and heading up to Old Trafford on match days with a dodgy burger and overpriced bootleg scarf round your neck (I live close to Old Trafford, and I see this A LOT.) *Note- please don’t take steroids. The songs are made to be yelled back at the band in a football chant type of way. They’ve captured the beautiful backbone of Punk with their sound along with generously fuzzy vocals- this band are so easy to love and just be obsessed with. The songs are meant to be played loud and loved- the sheer speed in the songs is addictive especially on Burak Won. The way this song smacks you right in the face is heavenly!

For me, they’ve got that same energy as one of my favourite bands dr chan. There’s this hyper energy that is just off the scale on this record, and one listen isn’t enough. I want their music playing in my ears on repeat all the time. In fact, once I finish my break at work- I’m going to have the band on repeat in the hopes I focus because my brain does not do too well when it comes to concentrating!

SNARLING DOGS: S/T LP.

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Craving some loud, rowdy music is like wanting a pizza or something else that’s apparently bad for your gut. You want the music to hit you in the gut and give you tummy cramps right after you’ve consumed too much of it- utterly gluttonous but exactly what you need at that time. This is where the debut record from Snarling Dogs comes in. It’s the kind of music that, if it came out when Dead Boys did- your folks probably would have been disappointed or kicked you out. I’ve got a cool mum, so she’d probably say this wasn’t for her, and let me carry on.

As far as debut records go, this one is a real ripper of a record. It feels like a thousand kicks to the face in the most majestic way possible. Snarling Dogs are the kind of band who you just KNOW put on a hell of a show. They’ve got this beautiful and rowdy feel to their sound. Does it feel like you’re listening to Dead Boys for the first time? Yes. It’s got that edge to it, it’s got that bite of Young, Loud and Snotty. One of the finest records of all time. Perfect from start to end. That’s exactly what you get with Snarling Dogs. Put on your battered leather jacket and go cause some trouble! This record, although it came out in November, is the antidote to those January Blues we’re all hearing out. Hey, don’t let anyone tell you that you need to have a bad time- or good time for that matter!

Only one song just goes over the 3 minute mark, and if you’re like me and have a really bad attention span- this band will give you all you need. I’m playing it quite loud, and my cat is happily sleeping away next to me. Is this what joy is? I think it just may be! If she can sleep through the noise and not run off scared, then it’s fair to say that Snarling Dogs know where it’s at. They’ve got such a chaotic sound, and honestly, this record makes it hard to accept this is their debut. It’s truly something else.

I’m An Animal has a real Stiv Bators feel to the vocals mixed with David Johansen (New York Dolls) to it. There’s a lot going on on this record, but that’s not a bad thing. Every song serves a purpose, and that purpose is to play the bastard really, really loud.

The adrenalin on this record is divine; imagine being in the same room as the band as they recorded this monster of a record?! I love the ferociousness of every single song, but the one that oozes it the most has to be Sniper and it then goes smack into Highway Of Hurt. Come on now! This is so good; it should be illegal! I feel they’re a band that need to be seen live, and this record was made for two things- to be played loud and to be seen live. Can someone get this band to the UK? It’s so easy to love a band like this when you’re already obsessed with Punk. As someone who does need/like quiet in their head, having music like this go through my bones and soul calms everything. Do I know why? No. Do I want to know why? Nope. Snarling Dogs have been influenced by so many bands I love and have taken that inspiration, and made something really remarkable. It’s the kind of music you’d chain smoke to (I don’t smoke but go with it) and probably down about 20 beers (I can only drink one before I feel sick!)

You can easily imagine bodies being thrown about in the pit at their shows, and people leaving covered in beer and sweat- none of which may be their own. I just love the sound they have, and I hope whatever comes next for them is just as big as this record. Like I mentioned above, this doesn’t feel like a debut record but you can tell it’s been a long time coming this record, and that hard work has truly paid off.

The record is filthy in the best way possible. It’s rebellious, it’s loud, it’s smutty, it’s all the things we were warned against. It might even be bad for our health, but that just makes us want it even more. And louder too. Their debut record is like a rabid dog gnawing at your leg, and will not let go at all. This band won’t let you; they need you to listen.

TEEN MORTGAGE.

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Sometimes you need to listen to something really noisy, just so you can feel something like a billion vaults go through your skull in the hopes of adding excitement to your day. Or whatever gets you through.

That’s where you need bands like Teen Mortgage. A duo that feels like a billion electric shocks to your skull. Do you feel anything yet? Probably not. Keep listening.

They are loud. The good kind of loud. The kind that makes you want to be as loud as them. Maybe louder? Only do what you can, if you want.

I know nothing about them, nor do I need to or want to. All I know is that they are pretty fucking good, and again, I’m late to the party. I don’t like parties anyway. This came from needing something loud to listen to at work. It’s doing the job. I have no idea how long they’ve been making music for, but in this case- time means nothing. Does it ever? Sometimes. When it drags, you feel like you could just gauge your eyeballs out to do something. We’re all waiting around for something. Usually for the day to be over. Light relief can always be found in music. I love the sound this band has. There’s slight hints of Melvins mixed with Heavy Lungs, and other bands I love. There’s a beautiful rage in their sound, and you can’t get enough of it. There’s this delightful fury in the songs that makes you want to throw things around and smash ‘em up. Do it. You’ll feel better. They have this energy that’s in the beloved Bruise Control and Death Goals. Loud. So fucking loud. So good. Inject this right into my eardrums.

Pick a favourite song? No. Not yet. I’ve spent a solid few hours listening to them on repeat, and Sick Day has this ridiculous feel to it. It’s the drums. Always the drums. It makes me feel like I’m slamming my head into a wall but with no feeling at all. Of course, the reality would be a headache, or worse. Anyway.

The Change is a solid one too. That’s one to play if you want someone you care about to like this band. If someone doesn’t dig them, it’s all okay to have trust issues over it and reassess your relationship with them. It’s okay. The Change COULD be one of my favourites, but every song I’ve nearly deafened myself with is exceptional. I feel like this bad mood I’ve been stuck in for a while has slightly lifted. I think I just need a nap. I always need a nap. My cat has got it figured out: wake up, have a little snack, maybe run around. Sleep for 5 hours. Repeat. Sleep again. More sleep. Could SHE handle this band? I’ve subjected her to some sorts at home- I think she’d be alright with this.

They’re the best at what they do, and this heavy sound they have is just a real joy to listen to. They’re the kind of band that make you fall back in love with music again. I’d noticed I’d been obsessively listening to set bands/songs over and over again. I don’t like when I do that, so finding Teen Mortage came at the right time. Ed is a giant on the drums. There’s this grand Melvins feel to his style- really sludgy, really loud. Then you’re hit with James’ vocals and guitar- add all this together, and you truly have a band worthy of every fraction of your attention, time, love, ears, anything/everything.

Teen Mortgage make music that is cathartic; it feels like a huge release listening to them. The modern world is too self-centred, and sometimes you just need a band like Teen Mortgage to smack you in the face with the kind of music that would probably scare your family.

Play it loud. Burst those eardrums*

*Don’t!! I don’t want you hurting yourself.

THE FADEAWAYS.

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I know I should probably keep track of the bands I write about it, but my brain doesn’t work in that way. God knows what kind of way it works in (if it even works at all!) Anyway, all I know is that I’ve written about a fair amount of bands from Japan but there’s one in particular that I should have written about a LONG time ago, but never did because I’m an idiot.

So, I’ll put me being an idiot aside for a bit and write about The Fadeaways and their newest record, Pretty Wild which came out only a few weeks ago.

The Fadeaways are THE perfect 60s Garage Rock style band. For me they are every band I love (that fit this genre) and more. They remind me of very early The Pretty Things, The Gruesomes (aka greatest band of all time) and there’s definitely hints of the most beloved band- Ramones. If I listen to something and I can hear the Ramones or The Gruesomes lurking in there somewhere- then I’m happy.  

I’ve made myself believe I’ve written about the band before, but even if I have- it doesn’t matter. What matters anyway! The Fadeaways make me want to ignore all my daily responsibilities and just listen to music like this all day. The true test of how great the band are? Well, my cat hasn’t run off the second I started playing them so that’s something. Normally she goes off into another room and sleeps. Not this time- I think little Mary has good taste. Anyway, back to The Fadeaways. I won’t limit myself to telling you just about their most recent release, but the band have been around FOREVER and there’s a lot to cover. For me they just have that really, really strong and addictive sound that, no matter what they do, it’ll always be the most energetic and mind-blowing thing you’ve ever heard. There’s this beautiful snarl in Toyozo’s voice that just makes you feel like you’ve heard music (in general) for the very first time.

They’re the kind of band you would play if you wanted to influence a younger relative, so they go find their own path musically. They just have this bite to their sound that you cannot help but fall stupidly in love with. The second you play their record, Teenage Hitsville- that’s when you know..that’s when you brutally know you’ve found something to really submerge yourself in and to just ignore everything around you. Will it sound like this record? No. Never. Go head first into this record and take it from there. Let it burst your eardrums and take your soul. That’s how they all get you in the end!

Japanese Garage Rock and Japanese Punk is MASSIVELY underrated, and when you have bands like The Fadeaways- how can you even THINK about ignoring how great it is? It makes you want to sack off where you live, take your possessions and your cat- and move to where the bands are. That’s how good they are. But we have social media, so it makes that kind of dreaming easier to do! Everything about The Fadeaways is just cool, and I know that the term “cool” is so redundant and I think I’ve only ever called one person cool (Lou Reed. The coolest ever.) Their sound and their style is perfect, and the way they play…my god! Have you ever heard anything so rowdy and so wonderfully chaotic? You probably have- but not like this. They make the kind of music that bar fights break out to, and all you can do is watch and throw the nearest beer in the direction of the biggest person there, then bolt out the door like the cowards we all are!

The band formed nearly 20 years ago, and in that time, they’ve toured the world and put out some incredible records. It should be illegal for a band to be THIS good; they’ve got this sound that, sure we’ve heard in other bands to a degree, but there is something about The Fadeways that stands out. They’re louder (even though there’s only 3 of them) and the noise they make is nothing short of “INJECT THIS INTO MY BODY RIGHT NOW” kind of feeling. Like, sure you can feel every vocal and note in your ears, but you want it to hit you deeper. You want the songs pouring out of you. That’s how great they are. What are their live shows like? Probably as intense. I will make a promise to myself to try see them if they ever play the UK again because a band like this cannot be missed at all. I think they make the kind of music that is designed to be heard live. To really experience it in a dark and sketchy basement bar and at the end of the night you leave covered in warm beer, probably without one of your shoes and don’t even try looking for your jacket- why did you even bring one?

The band are wonderfully chaotic, and I can only apologise for not writing about them sooner (the apology is to myself.) For me, The Fadeaways are the kind of band that you listen to (how you are feeling doesn’t matter) and you just immediately feel better. I love the loudness; I love how together their sound is and I just love how they combine everything I love about music and make this beautiful noise. You feel like you’re hearing the greats for the first time- The Dead Boys, Ramones, Count Five, Beefheart…all of them and more. The Fadeaways make you want to start a band, and I hope there’s a bunch of Punk kids in Japan listening to them and feel the urge to start their own band and in 20 years’ time- someone will be writing about them.

* I didn’t write about the new record. All I did was tell you how great the band are and to be honest, that should be enough (if you weren’t already aware of how great they are!)

LOST ANGELS: Away We Go.

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A number of years ago I wrote about a band called The Creeping Ivies. I think I wrote about them a hell of a lot, and they’re a band that I loved so much and I was gutted when they ended. However, Becca is back and her new band is equally as great so I’ll evidently become equally as obsessed.

Lost Angels only formed last year, and have FINALLY put out 3 brand new songs which I’ve fallen in love with. Becca has SUCH a distinctive voice, and her guitar playing is something else. Massively underrated but maybe Lost Angels will change that. In just 3 songs, they’ve created something that I cannot wait to hear more of. There’s comfort in hearing Becca’s voice again and I cannot wait to hear what else the band put out but for now- these 3 songs are what I’ll play on repeat.

The 3 track EP opens with the title track, Away We Go which is a beautiful way to get us hooked on such a great band. The EP is currently available on Bandcamp only but I think it’ll be up on Spotify etc. on the 14th so there’s no excuse for anyone to not get hold of the record in any way. The hook on Away We Go is a simple Punk-esque chant, and you cannot get enough of it. Imagine seeing the band live, and just yelling this back at them and as you leave the gig-you’re probably still yelling it.

And we get right into Midnight In The Graveyard which reminds me so much of one of the best songs ever written- I Just Wanna Have Something To Do by the Ramones; it sounds like it but there’s something beautifully creepy about this song and it’s easily my favourite. It feels like a Vincent Price film in the form of a song- perfect in every single way. I could listen to this on repeat and find more things to love about it. Obsessed? Always. It has such an eerie feel to it, and I just want to have it on repeat. I LOVE Becca’s vocals on this and in some ways, it does remind me of The Creeping Ivies and that will always be a good thing. I love the loudness on this song, but I love how the EP ends on a gentler note too.

The Only One closes the EP, and if you love Johnny Thunders- this is the one you’ll fall in love with. I love how you can pick up on the influences on this record, and it makes you feel like you’re hearing the Ramones or New York Dolls for the first time. Imagine never knowing such perfection, then it just hits you. You accidentally listen to the Ramones or NYD for the first time. Is that what sheer joy is? It’s up there. The Only One is a beautiful Punk love song, and they are the best love songs. These 3 songs are a perfect introduction to what Lost Angels are about, and they are clearly one of the best bands around from Glasgow right now. I really hope that more music comes from this and a tour too because these are the types of songs that you need to see live, right? They were made to be witnessed in sweaty dive bar.

I love this EP a hell of a lot and I love that I can hear parts of bands I love in every song. It’s a glorious EP and again, makes me wish I had even a fraction of musical talent. There’s nothing pretentious or over the top here- just beautiful Rock ‘N’ Roll from the heart and gut. I can’t wait to hear more from them because I know it’s going to be insanely brilliant and just effortlessly slick.

ANGEL FACE.

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There are so many records that have been released by Slovenly Records that are just incredible, and one of their most recent is debut by one of the best Japanese bands around- Angel Face. This is a proper rowdy and loud record that will totally annihilate your eardrums.  A glorious Punk record and a solid debut record.

The record kicks you in the kisser with You Ain’t My Angel and immediately you can hear that snarly tone that Stiv Bators had on this record. This is everything I could possibly want from a Punk record and so much more. They make the kind of music that would have your neighbours making noise complaints about. I’m pretty sure it’s scared off my cat too but to be honest, she’s scared of the spray mop I bought so I won’t trust her judgement here.

This record is something else. If you love bands like Bruise Control, Pancakes, Dead Boys- I could go on. If you love them, then you’re going to love this. Angel Face will make you want to sell whatever you own that’s of worth so you can fly off to Japan and immerse yourself in the Punk scene there. This is some rowdy shit that you cannot get enough of. I want everything I listen to to be as loud as this.

They’ve only been making music together since 2021, but this record sounds like something from ’76 or ’77- it’ll make you feel like you are discovering Punk for the first time, and you’ll wonder how you made it this far without it. How did I make it this far without this record? Every song on this record will make you feel like you’ve snuck into somewhere you shouldn’t have. Bad Feeling and I Can’t Stop are the ones that’ll have you waving your limbs about the most. Then you’ve got the ferocious Bring Me Back; the vocals on this are SO good. That proper gritty and menacing style; it’ll make you feel super tough when you listen to it, even if you’re just a delicate little flower.

Everything about this record screams PLAY THIS LOUDLY. There are no quiet or dull moments on this record; and it just makes you want to unapologetically lose your shit. This is the kind of band that you just know will destroy their live sets- the crowd will leave feeling bruised all over in the most pleasing way imaginable. They make the kind of music that has to be witnessed live. The urgency on this record is nothing short of vital and divine- you cannot help but get caught up in it. How else can you tell that this band are something else? The lead singer is called Hercules- that alone should sway you into digging this band.

Angel Face is anything but angels, and that’s part of the charm. Their sound is dark, raw, and loud- you cannot get enough of it. One casual listen just isn’t enough- you want to just let it consume every part of you, and when you find bands like that you have to hold onto them. Even if they are on the other side of the world and they’ll probably never end up where you are! But hey, we live in hope, don’t we?! It’ll get us through, as always. They make the kind of music that makes you think you’re part of a motorcycle gang or something. I honestly can’t think of a band who are making noise like this right now, and if this is what one record can do, then the world is theirs.

THE MEN: New York City.

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I completely forgot that this record came out very recently- I thought it was coming out in the Summer. I am a fool! Anyway.

The Men’s new record- New York City is their best work. Did I ever think I’d say something was better than their debut? Nope. Their debut owns a chunk of me that no other record ever could, but their new record is something else. It’s a Punk record that takes you back to NYC in the 70s. Aptly titled record, right?

Over the past few days this has been the record I’ve been listening to religiously. Every song feels like a time capsule of Punk. At times you feel like you’ve found an old Iggy Pop record that no one else has ever heard. Then you feel like you’ve listened to the New York Dolls for the first time. This is hugely prominent on the record opener Hard Livin’ which has Johnny Thunders style guitar and a real New York Dolls feel to it. Most of The Men’s records have been released via Sacred Bones but this one has been put out by the equally influential Fuzz Club. Both labels have backed so many exceptional bands and the cause of me rarely having any money!

New York City is the bands ninth record, and they’ve been going just over a decade or so. To me, they are one of the most important bands of my generation and they’ve just got this unique style that expands on every record. Sometimes when a band changes labels they can maybe lose who they were or badly flip their sound to fit the style of their new home- The Men don’t do this at all. If you listen to their records in chronological order, you will hear that this is the sound that was destined for record number nine- regardless of which label was to release it.

There are so many wild moments on this record and every song is just a delight to listen to. At the moment, Echo is the one I keep playing the most. I love the raw feel to it and how urgent it sounds. I love how the vocals are so gnarly and rough. There’s nothing delicate about this record- it’s unfiltered carnage and I can’t get enough of it! Every song flows perfectly into the next, and the production on this record is so tight- but they still maintain a strong DIY feel to it. The sound still feels brand new, and that’s one of the many reasons as to why I love this band. I love how they always go a step further and this record shows this in all its glory.

New York City is a record that you need to play in order for the first listen or so; but after that- go whichever way you want. Eye is the slickest song on the record- that’s the one that throws you off because musically it’s tamest on the record but vocally it’s probably the best. Honestly, the vocals on this are snarly as fuck and you can’t get enough of them. This record is the band at their best, and I’ve probably said that about their previous records but, with this one- there’s something truly magical about it. You feel like after being a fan of the band for so long, you’ve been on this journey with them and the journey has finally led to this record. The Punk record the band needed to make. The Punk record we all need. It’s a masterpiece and I could happily spend hours and hours listening to it. It’s a record that with every listen, you find something else to appreciate and fall in love with. Listening to this record, I feel like I’m listening to The Men for this first time but also reinforcing why I love them again and again. Every listen of this record is so precious.

I have no idea if the band will ever tour the UK with this record, but I hope with all my heart that they do because it just HAS to be heard live. And for purely selfish reasons, I’d like to finally be able to see a band I’ve loved for so long live! Every song on this record is full of this energy that you can’t get enough of. Songs like God Bless The USA, Anyway I Find You and Round The Corner are just so intense and honestly, this record will make you feel battered and bruised after hearing it. It’s a fistfight, it’s a riot and it’s so important. If you’ve never listened to The Men before, I’d normally tell you to play their debut, Leave Home first- but I think I’d now tell you to start with this one! It’s incredible, and I feel it just may be one of the best records we will hear this year.

MORON’S MORONS: High-Tension Situation.

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The finest Polish band are back! New record from Moron’s Morons is ridiculous- if you’re wanting a Halloween feel 24/7, regardless of the time of year- buy this record. High-Tension Situation is the name, and it pretty much lives up to its namesake. The songs will have you on edge, but in a good way. The songs are everything you’d want from an eerie Punk band and they are unafraid to be completely and utterly mental on every single song. The songs are live a deep dive into some kind of psychotic lapse of whatever, but don’t let that put you off. The songs would be perfect in some Horror B-Movie that is made very cheap and probably quite questionable too.

The 12 songs on this record were made to creep you out in the best way possible, and they were also made to be played exceptionally loud. They’ll sure wake you up! The record only came out on Friday (24th) but it’s one of those records that you feel you’ve had in your possession for years! There’s this effortlessly weird sound on this record that makes you feel like you’re trapped in Moron’s Morons world and you don’t want to even try escape- why would you want to when it sounds like this?!

The songs are rowdy and hella fast- songs like Nightvisions you can really imagine being played live and the whole place just erupting. They’ve got this energy that makes you wish you could witness every song in a live setting. I’ve written about this band before, and I can’t tell you enough just how exceptional they are. This energy is something else. The songs are all over the place- like mania is kicking in and the band have just thought “Fuck it! Play louder! Play faster!” and what we’ve ended up with is some of their most daring work to date. They’ve got the edge of Misfits and the charisma of The Cramps, and all in between. They’re a band that are known for their fast-paced and rowdy songs, and it works. See, some may try this approach and it sounds forced but with Moron’s Morons it sounds natural.

Psychosis Diagnosis is my favourite so far, and sure the lyrics are questionable but I love that scary feeling the song gives you. The whole record makes you feel like you’re being hunted down by something or someone, like a sea-creature that has no name yet because no one knows what the hell it is. But my god these songs are something else. Is it their best work to date? Completely. I know bands try to improve with every record, but what the band have done here is stay true to their sound but also corrupt the listener in a way that previous releases led to. This is the record they were always meant to make. It’s perfect. It’s odd and it’s loud. It is perfect in every way. I think the cover of the record also sums up what to expect from the record; strange, will burst your eardrums and will blow your mind.

It may only be their second full length record, but it sounds like something a band would make 10 years in. It’s timeless and every single song needs to be witnessed live. I hope someone books them a UK tour because you just feel like they would put on a fantastic show that sticks with you for all kinds of reasons. Fueled By Hate, Free-Time Crimes and Headless Eyes all have this snarly tone to it- wonderfully obnoxious and you can’t get enough of it. Honestly, this band know exactly what they are doing and I can’t wait to hear more and more from them.

Every song on this record needs to be heard as loud as you can stand- but also make you want to push yourself to go louder. It’s one of the most fascinating records of the year, but what else would you expect from Moron’s Morons?!

CROCODILES: Degeneration.

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It has finally happened! Crocodiles have FINALLY dropped some new material which means- a new record is coming! 7th April to be precise kids! It’ll be released via Lolipop records, and the first single from the record- Degeneration is a perfect introduction to their new record.

If you’ve ever read anything I’ve written, you’ll know just how much I love and adore this band. They are a band that have been there for all the good and bad. A band that just know how to constantly create masterpieces. Underrated and exceptional. I just love love them.

Degeneration picks up where 2019’s Love Is Here left off (not including the covers record they put out in 2021!) Their new record will be their 8th full length record (again, not including the covers record but you can if you want!) Even though it picks up from Love Is Here, I can hear some of their early sound in this song- that rugged and distorted sound; the sound that I fell in love with many, many years ago. They have such a distinctive sound and style, and that applies vocally too. They’re a band that just make everything alright. Their poetic lyrics are timeless and their sound is how you’d want your dream band to sound.

The video to Degeneration is simple but you’ll also see Brandon and Charlie’s faces melt. I reckon that’s a strong sign for how great the new record will be- it’ll melt our faces off. I cannot wait! It’s only 2 months to go, but in the meantime- I’ll be keeping Degeneration on repeat.

Check out the video below:

Upside Down In Heaven will be released on the 7th April via Lolipop Records.