Tag Archives: Post Punk

SPRINTS: All That Is Over.

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Buckle up because this is nearly 2,000 words!

The second album curse. Is it a myth? Is it for real? Well, one listen in on the new Sprints record, and it’s clear that this myth has passed them by. That myth looked at Sprints and knew better. It knew not to mess with them.

Letter To Self was one of the best records of 2024, and it was one of the most captivating debut records we’ve had in a while. It’s not fair to compare the two, but it’s fair to say that All That Is Over shows exactly what years of touring and working your arse off can do. Letter To Self was the starter. All That Is Over is the main event. It’s the one that grips you in a different way. The record opens with Abandon, and the way Karla’s voice grips you is unreal. It makes you feel like you are somehow listening in on something really private- almost voyeuristic in a way. You feel you shouldn’t be listening in but my god you are glad that you did. It’s the perfect way to start the record off and it truly grips you in ways the first song on a record should. Also, the drums on this are unreal.

You get your ears beautifully destroyed on To The Bone and this is one of the many moments where Karla’s voice shines. There’s this power (I honestly can’t think of a better word) in her voice that’s always there and she uses it to the fullest on this.

There are so many moments on this record that just make you think, “Oh shit this is THE BAND.” Like, this is the band you need to be pouring all your attention and love into. I’m seeing them play a small venue on Sunday here in Manchester and I just know it’ll be the perfect setting for them. Then, a few days before my birthday they’ll be playing the Albert Hall here and that’s my favourite big venue here in Manchester. I don’t there this a more fitting venue for them and to hear this record. It’s not a record that can be contained. It’s not a record that you stick on in the background. It’s a record you have to pay close attention to and let it grip you so tightly. The first song we got from the record was Descartes back in the summer and that pretty much summed up the feel of the record. Dark, heavy, poetic and addictive. It’s a stunning record and I feel that my words just don’t do it justice. This is a record that demands to be heard.

The latest single, Need is wild. I love the ending of it, and if you pay attention, you’ll hear Karla say, “I need you to leave me the fuck alone.” Perfect. I think most of us probably want this on a t-shirt or something. It’s fast and rowdy number, and I’m pretty sure seeing this live will be almost biblical. I think seeing them live will be just that to be fair. The more I listen to this song, the louder I want it. You want it louder and faster. It’s addictive. I’m pretty sure I’ll play this at the gym and feel I can take on the world.

Something’s Gonna Happen has claimed my heart. I could have this on repeat for hours, and with every listen, I’d find another part of it to adore and call it home. There’s an eeriness to it that would fit perfectly in like, a Norwegian detective drama series. It feels sinister. And you know, the whole record has this dark and sinister feel to it, but you don’t feel threatened. You feel quite safe, but you do feel on edge and that’s what they’ve done with Something’s Gonna Happen. You feel on edge, like it’s going to kick off and fuck me when it does kick off on this- it goes. It absolutely GOES. And I cannot wait to see this live. I just know the live version of this will be intense, and you can hear changes in Karla’s voice as she approaches the edge of the song- and that is the moment where you know you cannot escape your love for this band. It’s the anticipation that holds you so closely. You feel on edge- should you feel safe, or should you try run? As if you’re going to run. Don’t be a fool.

Every song on this record is a prime example of why Sprints are the most vital band around. You feel like you’ve found someone’s diary when you pay close attention to the lyrics, but you also fee like you’ve found a home. There’s a line on Pieces that got me in the gut; “Home is where the heart is, so where’s my head? For the last one who loved me, left me better off dead.” Oh, come on now! What a line! I’d have related to that well over a year ago, and it would have probably made me bawl. Now it just makes me feel silly for feeling that way. There’s always better and I found it. It’s a furious number, and again, is another example of why this record is made to be witnessed live. There is nothing calming about this record in the typical sense. As someone who finds security in loud songs and feels uneasy with the quiet, this record definitely feels good for the soul. It is comforting and its home. It’s just perfect.

Lyrically, this record is Sprints at their most honest and tender. Better is a solid example of the tenderness and it’s definitely got the potential to break the hardest of hearts. It’s one of the slower moments on the record and shows a different side of heartbreak in a way. There’s a healthy mix of rage, heartbreak, and disappointment on this record and Better sums up those emotions in the most perfect way. Sam and Karla’s vocals on this are just divine. I love their voices together anyway, but on Better you really hear how gorgeous they are together.

The record ends with a 6-minute dream of a song, Desire. I compare everything I listen to to the greatest song of all time- A Forest by The Cure. If a song can make me feel like I did when I first heard that aged 13/14, then I’m hooked. It goes without saying that feeling is there throughout All That Is Over but its comes alive on Desire. The last minute of this song feels like Karla is unleashing every single demon she’s ever known and giving it to the world and letting go. That’s how the whole record feels, and that’s how you feel when you listen to the record. Every ugly and intense feeling you have, that you have no idea what to do with is let go of when you listen to this record and for me, that’s what makes Sprints and this record such a joy to listen to. It’s like an exorcism of sorts. It’s a cathartic record and you get a real sense of it having that feeling during the creation of it.

The band in general on this record sound like gang. There’s not just one band member here to focus on- it’s all of them. Jack is a real threat on the drums, and there are a lot of moments on this record where the drums just take your breath away. The addition of Zac adds something that compliments the sound of Sprints in a way you didn’t think could exceed Letter To Self and previous, but Zac’s nailed it- that ferocious guitar sound feels like fireball approaching. Sam is probably one of best bassists around- the way he and Jack create this unique and thrilling rhythm on every song just leaves you in awe. Karla’s voice (and guitar) has never sounded so powerful. She has this tone to her voice which reminds me of my two favourites- Shirley Manson and Patti Smith. Writing this makes me feel like I have found Garbage for the first time aged 6 or 7, and that is what I get with Sprints. The power in their music reminds me so much of Garbage and my heart is so full of love for that. I pretty much could have cut out a thousand words here and just kept that in to sum up this record!

The whole record exposes the bin fire that is the world right now, and you feel less alone listening to the record- especially when you feel so fucking helpless. The world is heavy, and this record explores that heaviness in a way that has you hooked from the start. The production on this record is again flawless (I mean, it’s Daniel Fox- of course it’ll be perfect!) What was done on Letter To Self has been heightened and something entirely new has been birthed. It’s ripper of a record, and one you cannot get tired of. Sprints won’t shrink themselves for you to feel comfortable, and that’s one of the most wonderful things about this band. The hard work, the passion and the drive is right there. It’s always been there, but this record unleashes something entirely different, and you want it to be poured into your eardrums constantly. You simply cannot get enough of it.

All the best records are dark, intense and creep you out a little bit- All That Is Over does all this and more. If this is what they can do with just two records, then imagine what they’ll be like 5 or 6 records in. Dublin’s finest. Ireland’s finest. Just the best. I couldn’t praise this record more if I bloody well tried. It is like a thousand punches to the gut and head. A freight train to the soul. A mirror to yourself. It is perfect.

If you are in need of a record to break or fix you. If you’re looking for a record that puts you on edge but also makes you feel safe. If you’re looking for a beautifully created masterpiece. If you want a record that makes you feel like someone has stepped into your head and exposed all that you think and feel. If you’re looking for something you’ve not heard or felt before- then this is the record you need. It’s a masterpiece and it is a joy to listen to, and to be consumed by.

I don’t think I have ever written about a record in such detail before. Nearly 2,000 words about a record. I didn’t think I had it in me, but sometimes you hear something so important- you just have to let it all out. So, thank you Sprints. Thank you for creating one of the most important records of the year and for making something that feels like home.

PINS: I’ll Be Yours.

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The world is terrible, but PINS are back! One of my favourite bands from Manchester are back. Listening to their new single, I’ll Be Yours is making me feel exactly the same way I did when I first heard them back in 2011 or 2012. It was either Shoot You or Luvu4lyf that got me hooked. I felt like I had found a band that were going to make me love a city that I loved even more and truly appreciate the music there. It made me want to leave where I was living at the time. I made that move in 2018, and I’m still here. Music makes this city. As do the people. Home is where the music is.

Alright, soppiness aside- I’ll Be Yours is PINS at their very best and my god how I’ve missed them. It’s been around 5 years since their last record (Hot Slick) was released, and this year marks 10 years of the divine and delicious Wild Nights record. I urge you to buy tickets for this, as this band are wonderful live.

The new single sounds like how The Shangri- Las or how The Crystals would sound if they were around now and had a heavier sound. In short, PINS have that beautiful 60s Girl Group sound that I love so much but have added this heaviness to it that just makes it so exciting. I’ve missed this band so much. I can’t put into words how much it means to have them back. Who needs Christmas or birthdays!? This is what we need.

The guitar on this insane, and you just know it is going to be a dream to hear live! PINS are a band that absolutely need to be seen live. Every show I’ve been to, they’ve just sounded better and better. I cannot wait for the tour, and to hear these songs again. Oh, I’ve bloody missed them.

I’ll Be Yours is a gorgeous number to have on repeat and waste the day away too. It’s everything PINS are in 2 minutes and 6 seconds. If you’ve never listened to them before, start with this and go back. Go back and get lost in their stunning and powerful sound. They’re the best of the best, and I’m so glad they are back.

Tour starts in a week, and you can get tickets here: PINS Tour

This wasn’t so much a review but me going on about why this band are bloody great and a call for you to get tickets for the tour.

VIVA PINS!

BODY MAINTENANCE: Far From Here.

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If a band can give you a doom and gloom feeling on a sunny day, then you’ve found musical bliss. I know some may want the cheery type of music, and that’s nice for them. But I want something that emotionally makes me feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. I want music to make me think and feel a type of way that I may not always get. I think it was John Peel that once said, “I just want to hear something I haven’t heard before.” And that’s probably a really strong way to approach listening to music and trying to find something that speaks to you.

I wrote about Body Maintenance a few years ago. I think I was taken aback that they are a band from Melbourne and thought they were from a dark alleyway in Berlin from the 1980s. They sound like every band I’ve ever loved and adored but also have something very new about them. That new sound is smack right in their new record, Far From Here. Some have likened the band to Joy Division (I may have too) but when you listen to this record, you hear something else. I’ve played the record a few times now, and I’m still trying to work out what that “something else” may be. But I guess, I’ve done a John Peel and found something I haven’t heard before.

Far From Here is a remarkable record and is of course, the band at their absolute best. This is the kind of record that would cause you to go down a rabbit hole of trying to find bands like this, and I’ve done this many times before and in turn, ended up finding bands who I’ve become obsessed with. The record opens with the stunning The Surface but for me, it’s all about track number 3- The Face That I Stood Behind. This live would be next level. The whole record feels like an outer body experience, and I reckon seeing this band live would be exactly the same. This song is over 5 minutes of music heaven, and I want to hear it at every single opportunity I can. We then go smack into The Boundaries which reminds me a little bit of The Cure, and that is only ever a good thing.

We’re always looking for something different- not better, just different. Better is a question of taste, so leave that out. This record is different. It’ll get you in the mind, body, and soul. It’ll make you wish you could spend the rest of your days listening to. To be honest, that’s how you should feel when you listen to the band. Everything they do and have done is just a joy to listen to, and their new record really highlights how great a band they are.

Slates is one of the tamer moments on the record, and it goes beautifully into Broken Sculptures which again is another favourite. I’m likely to change my mind on which song I love the most by the time this is written and posted but believe me- this is a record you need to listen to and own. It’s really worth going back and listening to their previous records after immersing yourself in this one too- you may end up appreciating the band even more so because they really are exceptional musicians. I just bloody love them.

In just 8 songs, Body Maintenance have firmly proven why they are one of the best bands around. Australia knows how to put out exceptional music- from my beloved Silverchair to Royal Chant to Amyl And The Sniffers, and to Body Maintenance. There’s something in the water, and we can’t get enough of it. This is such a remarkable record; the drums on Days In Arcadia is another strong moment on the record, and the way it slides right into Golden Fire is divine. Needs to be studied! Golden Fire is a gorgeous way to end the record, and it of course leaves you wanting more- how could you not? The vocals on this remind me a little of the band White Lies (I loved them when I was at Uni.) It’s an atmospheric number that will get you right in the gut, and honestly- that’s the record all over. It was made to be utterly felt with all you have and for it to consume every ounce of you. It’s just a flawless record that deserves your attention, time, and love.

You can stream the record on their Bandcamp now, and it will be released near the end of the month. It will be out in the UK via Drunken Sailor Records on the 27th June.

L.A. WITCH: DOGGOD.

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There are a handful of bands that I’ve written about over the past (18) few years that have really stuck with me, and I can remember listening to their music for the first time. I can probably remember what I was wearing and where I was. Can I remember what I did last week? Not a chance. I’ve been writing about L.A. Witch since 2012, and every release feels like I’m discovering them for the first time all over again. That’s when you know a band is truly out of this world.

L.A. Witch are releasing their 3rd full length record on Friday, and I’ve been listening to my copy since January. Every listen is better than the last, and this feels like the record they were always going to make. It’s a masterpiece, but that’s to be expected from them. They’re one of the best bands of our generation. They remind me of all the old bands I love from The Gun Club to The Cramps, but also remind me of something we’ve not heard yet. Something undiscovered and nameless. The new record, DOGGOD was recorded in Paris and you can hear the influence of the city on this record. If you’ve listened to their previous work you’ll have picked up on an L.A. feel to their sound but there’s something heavier and darker here. That’s probably why I love it so much. It’s a beautifully intense record right from the start. It’s the band at their very best.

The record opens with the new single, Icicle. If you’re after dark and romantic lyrics- this is the record for you. The words are poetry and really heavy, but don’t let that deter you in any way. What the band musically add to these dark lyrics is something beyond words and anything I could ever write down. I’ve written about them so much over the past 10 years, and every single time I am in awe of how brilliant they are. Sade is one of the best guitarists ever, Irita makes the bass look easy and Ellie just destroys the drums. Put this together, and you’ve truly got one of the best bands around.

There are many gentle moments on the record but for me it’s the 6-minute delight that’s I Hunt You Prey that’s captured my heart the most. Songs over 6 minutes are my weakness sometimes, and they’ve done something truly magical here. There’s a haunting vulnerability to Sade’s voice on this one, and you can really feel the weight of it all. The bass on this is one of the best moments, and is honestly one of the best songs they’ve ever written. It’s unlike anything else they’ve ever done, and even Sade’s vocals sound different here. If I was played this and without knowing it was L.A. Witch, I honestly wouldn’t have been able to tell it was them. It’s so different in the best way possible. I now want them to do a record of 6-minute masterpieces like this. I can’t drive, but it makes me want to take a long drive. It’s got that urgency to it, and that’s their sound all over. I think I’ve mentioned it about their music before, but L.A. Witch make the kind of music that makes you feel you are riding a motorbike on the open road and out into the unknown. It makes you feel untouchable and rebellious.

The whole record oozes devotion, love and romanticism- but it’s not done in a sickly way that makes you feel utterly nauseas. They do it in a way that’s relatable; and it’s the intenseness that keeps you doing back and causing you to relate to so much on the record. Eyes Of Love has this slick and hypnotic groove to it that makes you hit the repeat button several times. There are no fillers on this record, everything is where it deserves to be. I firmly advise listening to this record through headphones and letting every tiny detail on the songs gently trickle into your ears. Let the record consume you; it’s the only way. DOGGOD at times feels like a spiritual record, and I think that’s what makes it so easy to love and see yourself in. Like I said earlier, this is the record they were destined to make.

DOGGOD is one of those records that in a few years’ time, you’ll go back to and there’ll be certain songs you head for first instead of playing it in order. For me, I think the song I’d go for would be The Lines or Kiss Me Deep. The Lines sounds like it would fit perfectly on Play With Fire, but there’s this really big sound to it and honestly? This would be one of the songs I’d play to someone if I wanted to convince them that L.A. Witch are one of the best bands around. If this wouldn’t win someone over, what hope do we have?! I love how the tender moments on the record (Lost At Sea) go right into that loud sound of theirs I love so much (DOGGOD.) It just shows how super talented they are, and how unafraid they are to play with different sounds and to make something really phenomenal.

L.A. Witch have pushed themselves with this record, and that’s evident right from the start until the end. This is a band that have taken the time to make a record that they can yet again be so proud of. For me they are like bands such as The Cure and The Cramps- every record is better than the last. Everything they do is just beautiful and perfect. Their last release was 5 years ago (Play With Fire still feels so new to me!) and you can really hear the growth on DOGGOD. They’ll never make a bad record, ever. That I’m so sure of.

The devotion on the songs is the epitome of love and loving someone so unapologetically hard (as someone who is very aware of their feelings, this may only be the way I feel to love someone and it can be a pain!) Of course, there’s an unhealthy amount of submission in the songs but there’s so much to really treasure on this record. The honesty and openness in the lyrics for me, is what stands out. Everything else just follows perfectly after. I feel that DOGGOD is one of those records that if I came back to it in a few years, I’d write differently about it because over time the songs would take on different meaning and carry a different kind of weight. In short, it’s a powerful record and if I made lists- it’d be my record of the year. No questions.

DOGGOD is out this Friday (4th April) via Suicide Squeeze Records.

BAMBARA: Birthmarks

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I’ve said it many times before, but there’s nothing better than writing about a band you love and their new record. Bambara are one of the best bands around, that we know. But just how great is record number five, Birthmarks? In short, it’s the best thing they have ever done. And this is coming from someone who is still very much attached to Shadow On Everything. In fact, I’m probably still very much attached to all their records. Birthmarks stands out immediately.

The record opens with Hiss, and what I’ve noticed with not just this record- but every Bambara record, is that it feels like a film. A film that is dark, twisted and beautifully tortured. I think that just shows how exceptional they are as musicians and writers. They create this atmosphere that sucks you in; regardless of where you start with their music, it’s a feeling that gets you right away. They could easily do a soundtrack for a film or three- no problem. There’s this brilliantly perverse feeling throughout Letters From Sing Sing, and it’s truly the band at their best. I’ve read many reviews on the band where they are compared to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, which I totally get but there’s something more here. Sure, compare this record to Kicking Against The Pricks or Let Love In, but leave it at that. Reid’s vocals here have never sounded so strong and the way you can hear him sing through gritted teeth on Face Of Love is just divine. The man has a voice of an angel.

There’s a lot of storytelling on this record, which is typical of Bambara and it’s only a positive thing. The mention of Elena and the one-eyed man means having those familiar characters right away makes you feel safe with this record, but part of you is always on edge. You feel like you’re on the edge of something about to happen, and happen it does. The first single from the record, Pray To Me is the perfect way to win new fans over and get us old ones excited for the record. Everything you love about Bambara comes to a head on this song, and it was such a strong choice for the first single. Any song could have been the lead, but when I heard it a few months ago- I just knew in my gut that Birthmarks was going to end up being the best thing they had done to date.

Something that is constant throughout the record (and all their records) is the influence of Southern Gothic themes and you can hear the influence New York has had on them. You can really feel the influence of David Lynch and Nick Cave amongst others on this record and that’s a constant on all their records, but there’s something else there. Something I can’t quite put into words. The whole record is a joy to listen to and as a fan, it was love at first listen. I cannot wait for the tour next month because they are truly, truly one of the best bands I’ve ever seen live.

With Reid’s gnarly and gritty vocals, it is beautifully matched at times with vocals from Emma Acs (Crack Cloud), Bria Salmena, and Madeline Johnston (Midwife.) Sax is also provided by Jeff Tobias (A. Savage) and haunting harp tones are provided by Marilu Donavon (LEYA.) Blaze yet again annihilates the drums and of course, William provides impeccable slick tones on the bass, synth and piano. Let it be known, this band know EXACTLY what they are doing and how they want to sound. For me, the song that shows just how strong this record is, is Smoke. There’s something about this song that just ties the whole record together, and you feel like you’re no longer on edge. It’s possibly the most calming song on the record and lyrically, it might be my favourite. I am absolutely likely to change my mind in a weeks’ time, but my god this song is Bambara at their finest. The whole record is the band at their very best. They’ve never made a bad record, I don’t think they could even if they tried. I just really, really love this band. You know when you find a band that make everything click? Bambara (and Crows) are the band that do that for me. If I was religious, I’d compare this all to a religious experience.

The record ends with Loretta. Whatever I say about this, doesn’t do the song justice. There’s a heaviness to it that is just a touch more noticeable here than on other songs and the imagery in the lyrics? My god. That’s the thing with Bambara, and it always will be- the lyrics. The lyrics feel like every Henry Miller book I’ve read to death. There’s this darkness, this smuttiness, and chilling tones to it all that just connects. I don’t want to hear typical love songs about sunshine, rainbows and all that sickly stuff. Keep it away. I want dark and meaningful words that actually grip you and are relatable.  Inject it into my veins and leave me listening to this record on a loop. Thank you.

You feel as you take in Reid’s words as he sings at you, that you’re in the midst of a sermon. Well, if Bambara are a cult- sign me up. You cling onto every word, every note. Everything. This is a record that was made to consume the listener. It was made to be soaked up and clung onto with all you have. It’s a record that in 5, 10 years I’ll still feel exactly the same about. It’s perfect in every single way.

Music, like all great art forms, should move you. You should feel something powerful and sacred only to you. That’s what Bambara have done yet again; it’s what they do and will always do. Every single song on the record feels like a short story. A dark and gripping short story, and I reckon it will truly come alive in a live setting. I’m so excited for this record to be released on Friday and I’m so excited for the tour next month. They’ve created something so classy here and so memorable. I just know that in many years to come, this will be one record I play and I feel like I’m hearing it for the first time. That’s when you know you’ve found something very special.

BACKYARD RITUAL: Small World.

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Small World by Backyard Ritual was released last summer, and I’m a dummy for not writing about it sooner. Backyard Ritual is the project of Ian Campbell- the main songwriter of a band I’ve written about many times and love a hell of a lot- Pop.1280. Ian reached out to me about this record, and I genuinely never thought someone from a band I love so much would ever do that! The first person (and only besides this) I told was my uncle because he too, has an impeccable taste in music and is also a fan of Pop.1280. If anyone was going to know how big of a deal this was to me, it was him! Anyway, story out the way. Time for the music.

Small World is a tense and atmospheric record. It’ll keep you on edge but at times it will calm you down. I love how dark the record and how it feels it could easily have been used in an early John Carpenter film. There’s a lot to love and take in on this record, and I really appreciate how you can take in the minimalism approach on this record. Interboro reminds me of The Vacant Lots- there’s that New York feel to the record. I’ve said it before that some bands/artists make you really pick up on where they are from. You can really put a place to the music, and Backyard Ritual do this so well. You feel like you are scoping the alleys of New York late at night when you listen to this record, and you even get that when you listen to Pop.1280 but I’m not here to compare old bands to current.

The debut full length record is dark and eerie; the best records usually are. There are Industrial and Post-Punks influences on this record, and it doesn’t feel heavy. I know I mentioned above that you immediately feel you are in NYC when you listen to this record, but you still pick up on other feelings on this record. It’s perfect for if you are feeling lost and want to be found. There’s an urgency to it, and there are also slight laid-back moments too on this record. It’s a gorgeous Electronic record if you are in need of genres to be thrown around. But honestly? It goes beyond that. It’s a solid record. A really captivating debut record as Backyard Rituals, and there are moments on this record that are truly heavenly. For me, the gentleness in the middle of the record on Circumstance shows just how brilliant Ian is as a musician. The record does start powerful and it is then toned down here, and it then picks up. You don’t know how to feel, but you take it in any way because it’s such a big record. For me, I feel you could easily put your headphones on and soak up this record whilst wandering the street late at night or on the night bus to get you wherever you need to go. It’s a late-night record, and they are usually the best ones.

There’s something about this record that makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time but also stepped foot into the future with it. In its own effortlessly slick way- Small World is timeless. There are nods to Ian’s previous projects on this record, but there is also something brand new here. Something we’ve not heard before, and it truly comes to life on songs like Amateur Journalist and Proxy. At the moment, they are my two favourite songs but we know that the more I listen, the more likely I am to find a different song to love. In short, it’s a bloody remarkable record and one I am so glad I have been made aware of. Imagine going through life, and not knowing about this record?! How boring! How unfortunate!

If you love bands like Cold Cave, Harsh Symmetry, The Vacant Lots- then you’ll fall in love with this one. In just 9 songs, Backyard Ritual have created something really long-lasting and important. There’s urgency throughout this record and there’s so much to appreciate. I don’t think I’ve even touched the surface on describing how great it is, but hopefully if you listen to it too, you’ll hear it. You’ll pick up on how vital and slick this one is.

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.

DITZ: Never Exhale.

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Nearly a decade ago, the band DITZ formed, and nothing was ever the same since. From their first EP in the same year to 2022’s debut, The Great Regression and a live record thrown in the middle- the band have made a name for themselves. They’ve become one of the best bands in this country, but also- criminally underrated. They aren’t a band for casual listening. They’re a band that when you listen to them, you listen with intent. With everything you have, and more (if you have it in you.)

In about 16 days’ time their new record, Never Exhale will be released. How early it is in the year to call it as one of the best records of the year, but it’s an accurate claim and I know by mid-September I’ll feel the same. I cannot budge on my love for DITZ. Never. Everything about their new record shows the band at their very best, and it doesn’t feel like it’s a band who are about to give us only their second full length record. This is a record that holds a lot of weight, importance, and passion. It’s a bloody unreal record and it just reinforces why I love them so much. I think any DITZ fan is going to fall madly and utterly in love with this one.

I won’t get into how great Taxi Man and Space/Smile are because with them being the two lead singles so far- you already know how great they are and beautifully set the tone of the record. The urgency on Space/Smile is throughout the record, and that raspy tone in C.A. Francis’ voice is just divine. You want more and more of it. There’s so much beauty in the lyrics on the record, and for me Senor Siniestro is lyrically up there as being my favourite. I love how C.A. Francis describes standing on a snail in the rain and the feeling and sounds it beings. The way this song kicks in just before the 2 minute mark is WILD, and I think live this is going to be one that truly sticks with you. There’s desperation in this song, and I think for me, that’s what makes it hit hardest. They are a band that HAVE to be seen live, because there’s no way that these songs should be confined to you listening to them in your bedroom.

For me, DITZ make the kind of music that you want to crawl inside of and stay there. You want every sound, lyric, note- every element of the music to just consume you in all ways possible. A person could never come close to giving you this; but music can. It always has, and always will. DITZ are a band that just never seem to stop and the bursts of energy on Never Exhale show this. There is this force in the songs that feels like you are preparing for something, they hype you up but at the same time you find a home and comfort in them.

Every song on this record serves a purpose, and that purpose is to make YOU listen. You have to. Like I mentioned, they aren’t a band that you have on in the background and casually listen to them. Oh no! DITZ are to be heard. You cannot just passively listen to songs like God on a Speed Dial and go about your daily business- absolutely not! Every emotion possible will go through you. It’s vocally one of the best moments on the record. Smells Like Something Died In Here isn’t only the best song title of 2025, but it may just be DITZ at their very best. It’s heavy, it’s brutal, it’s eerie and it should unsettle you. It’s the kind of song you’d want to hear during a horrific scene in a sketchy Horror film and something truly awful is about to happen. The atmosphere on this record is haunting and tense, and it is heightened on this song- well and truly. If a Horror film could be captured in a song, it’s this one.

On the way to work this morning, I was listening to The Great Regression and as I listen to Never Exhale, I can hear just how the band have secured their sound and built themselves to be one of the most thrilling bands we have in this country. Caleb kills the bass on 18 Wheeler, then when Sam comes in with the drums to back up the punchy tones of Caleb- it all comes together with Anton and Jack adding this extra heaviness, and it just makes for one of the most captivating moments on the record. It also has that distinctive DITZ sound- like you’re having an MRI scan, or someone is drilling your skull, and they pour their sounds into your ears, and it just swallows you up. Nothing else can be heard. It sinks deep into you. It’s consuming, and it is beautiful. This band go beyond giving you all that you need.

The Body as a Structure is the one that’s got me right in the gut. This is the one I’m most excited to see live (if they play it!) and touches on “the separation of the physical from an ingrained sense of reality” which is a beautiful way of explaining how important this song is. I feel this is going to be the song that I keep going back to. I don’t think I’m going to personally hear a song that will hit me in the gut like this for the rest of the year. There are a few reasons why this one hits me the most, but honestly? No one needs to hear it, nor does it need to be written down. It’s just one of the most powerful songs we’ll get this year.

The record ends with britney; 7 and a half minutes of greatness. The record consists of perfect moments and every song deserves its place. This the perfect way to close the record and it is the band at their most vulnerable. It’s one of those songs that will leave you crying at how beautiful it is- it’s the 2 minute mark onwards that grips you. It’s a tough listen, but if you can stomach it; then you’ll feel every emotion possible on this one. It’s heavy, and it’s by no means an easy listen. It’s one where you sit and let it consume you. It’s poetic, it’s passionate and it’s intense. That sums the record up in general, but my god on this song it exceeds it all. You have to listen to this with headphones on and with your eyes closed. Don’t let anyone or anything near you to distract you. For those 7 and a half minutes- you belong to DITZ and no one else. The build up and the release during the last 2 minutes on this song feels like something is clawing it’s way out of you, then when it all ends and the quiet hits all you are left with is how the record has made you feel, and what the hell do you do afterwards. You’re overwhelmed in the best way possible.

Never Exhale is a record that will stay with you for a long time after you’ve listened to it. Certain moments on the record will hit you as you go about your day, and you’ll feel the need to stop everything, and let the record consume you all over again. The same feeling I got when I heard them for the first time is alive and well after listening to the new record, and I think if a band can do that, then you know you’ve found something special. And you know that they have created something that goes beyond words and feelings.