Tony Suspect
2024 has been a pretty damn good year (work aside), especially as I got to have fun practising and playing with Abrazos (and getting to share a stage with Fords Fuzz Inferno, C.R.@.M, Left For Dead and Geezapunx). Had some fun trips - Scotland (via Cumbria on the way up, and Middlesbrough on the way down), Cardiff and Bristol, Avebury, Cambridge and Norfolk to stay with Gaz.
The Running At The Edge Of Their World book came out. It still seems odd that not only did Gaz and me write a book but Earth Island wanted to publish it. We’ve been blown away by the reviews and lovely comments too.
The following lists are not in any particular order, and I had to leave some good releases/bands out, but I think these reflect the things I’ve played/enjoyed the most over the course of the year.
Big records:
There have been so many great albums released this year, but these are the ones that I’ve kept going back to.
AMASS - Gamekeepers Gallows 12” - Wonderful Anarcho punk for the 21st Century from a great band, released by the good people at GYO.
PACK RAT - Life’s A Trap LP - Power Pop Punk tunes from Chain Whip’s drummer Patrick McEachnie. Now a full band and sounding really great.
PIZZA TRAMP - The Last Supper LP - The last album(?) and their best (?). Everything I love about this band is here; humour, politics, fast as fuck punk.
INVERTEBRATES - Sick To Survive LP - Fast and frenetic punk from Richmond VA channelling both Minor Threat and Discharge. Ace.
FAST BLOOD - Sunny Blunts LP - Superb, melodic greatness with excellent, distinctive vocals. It really is a stunning record.
CANAL IRREAL - Someone Else's Dance LP - Brilliant second album from Martin Sorrondeguy’s band. More N/N than Crudos, which is just fine with me.
DEAD PIONEERS - s/t LP - Powerful, political, pissed off and punk as fuck. Classic punk rock with an important message. Can’t wait to see them in 2025.
FORD’S FUZZ INFERNO - Electrofuzzification LP - Straight forward fuzzed up punk rock tunes. Now a trio and catchy as hell.
JUDY & THE JERKS / SHITTY LIFE - split LP - Super fast, chaotic but melodic punk from both bands. Just great striped down energy infused songs .
VARIOUS - Groucho Marxist Record Co-Operative LP - Brilliant comp of early Paisley punk bands with a great booklet, from Sealed Records.
**Since writing this I have bought big records by Prey and Cold War, both could well have made the list***
Smaller records/CDs:
As above, I have bought lots of singles (but not many CDs), but these all got a damn good listening to.
COLLISION COURSE - Landfill 10” - Updating the early GBH/OneWay System sound with an anti-capitalist message. Perfect.
EASTFIELD - Terminus 10” - You know what you’re going to get from Eastfield, and they always deliver top-notch punk rock tunes, and trains.
ASSISTERT SJØLMORD - s/t 7” - Blazing hardcore from Oslo, Norway, breathless stuff and so good.
GIMIC - We Are Making A New World 7” - Great band with a dynamic, unique sound. A brilliant EP showcasing everything I love about Gimic.
CRAN - Rejet 7” - With a sound inspired by Blitz’s ‘New Age’ single, this French band really deliver the goods, both live and on record.
DARK HARVEST COMMANDOS - s/t 7”EP - Ferocious punk from veterans of many bands. Think Kohti Tuhoa with added Glasgow grit.
LAS RATAPUNKS / LBM - split 7” - Las Ratapunks deliver their wonderful stripped down fast, invigorating punk while LBM bring the heaviness.
DINOSAUR SKULL / DEALING WITH DAMAGE - Dealing With Dinosaurs 7” - Four covers from two of the UK’s best melodic bands.
KING OF PIGS- After Victory Comes Defeat CD - Mixing Negative Approach, Poison Idea and UKHC to great affect. Great to have new stuff from them.
C.R.@.M - Total Eco War CD - Anarcho punk with hints of Crass, Poison Girls, Hawkwind and Chumbawumb. Fighting the good fight.
Live:
There have been some good gigs this year, most of them I’ve been to with good friends. These bands were all fantastic.
CHANNEL 3 - Cambridge - Wow, I got to see CH3 at a DIY gig. They were fantastic and it was great to be there with Pete Zonked and Mike Doe.
ARMOURED FLU UNIT - Southampton - Always great and the best band on a night when Rubella Ballet and Conflict also played.
CRAN- Portsmouth - Absolutely fantastic. Brilliant Blitz inspired punk with good politics and good humour. An odd venue, but a great gig.
LAS RATAPUNKS - Great Yarmouth - Brilliant to get the chance to see them. Domestics and Eastfield were good too. I love going to gigs with Gaz.
HARD SKIN - Portsmouth - Ten years after last seeing them and they haven’t changed a bit. It’s always great to see Sean, Ben and Scott.
IMPLODERS / GIMIC - Southampton - A special night. Two great bands and an evening of friends and exhilarating music leaving me amped for days.
CULTURE SHOCK - Portsmouth - It’s been a while, but Culture Shock were as good as ever, lots of old favourites played.
JOHNNY MOPED - Bournemouth- Blimey they were good. I was hoping they wouldn’t disappoint, but they were fantastic, Johnny is a one off..
THE LOVELY EGGS - Southampton - At last I managed to be available when they were in town. I bloody loved them.
THE DAMNED - Southampton - My last gig of the year and The Damned were phenomenal, so many great songs, lots of fun. Loved it all.
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Gaz - Top Ten of 2024..
OK… If you’re at all interested here’s what has floated my listing to starboard Punk Rock boat this year. In no particular order.
1, CROWN COURT – Trouble From London LP. Pure Oi Oi and they do it so well. Saw em’ live at Rebellion and they packed out the Arena Stage too!
2, EASTFIELD – ‘Terminus’ 10”. Best stuff they’ve ever done! Top of the Premier league in the world of rail fuelled Punk Rock.
3, RUBELLA BALLET – ‘Money Talks’ 12”. After over 40 years they are finally released on Crass Records and we get them in SD……. at last!
4, DEAD PIONEERS – My late discovery of 2024. Whatever Tony has said about them I agree!
5, EARTH ISLAND – Not just because they put our book out, but because they keep putting good books out.
6, CRASS – ‘A Pictorial History’. A pricey book I agree, but it leaves no stone unturned with regard to where and when they played and everything in between. Surely there can be nothing left for us to know about one of the most important Punk bands ever? Watch this space.
7, STEVE IGNORANT BAND – ‘Live Bedford Esquires’. Might as well keep the Crass theme going. This was a Sunday afternoon matinee back in October and it was great. Marvellously tee’d up by the support of ‘Headsticks’ – Steve and band came straight on and belted out some of the most famous songs in the history of Punk.
8, XSLF – ‘Live Norwich B2’ 01/12/24 – What a great night out this was. You have two choices these days. One is the highly polished ‘Jake Burns’ version of this great band or you can pay £9 to see Henry Clunie’s version serve up their most famous tunes in their most stripped-down Punk Rock form. On price and certainly entertainment I’ll take the latter. Crowd participation, the lot on the night. Fantastic!
9, DISCHORD – ‘Live Blackpool’ 01/12/24 – Wandered out of Rebellion one evening for an hour in search of a decent beer and went into ‘The Brew Room’. They were putting on a few bands not part of the Rebellion line up and Dischord took to the floor (No stage) a short while after I purchased my first beer and were absolutely excellent. Great songs and plenty to say. A few old geezers tried to question their politics and were easily put in their sad old place. They are from Blackpool too!
10, LEFT FOR DEAD/ABRAZOS/CRAM – ‘Live London’. Can’t remember the Pub in London this gig was in, but it was one of those totally DIY gigs that Punk was designed for! Shame a few more punters didn’t make it out, but sometimes that’s how it is. Their loss!
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PETE ZONkED - 2024 LIST
BLOODSTAINS – S/T LP (Drunken Sailor)
When did this come out, mid-year? Well, either way, it’s proved to be my most-played record of the past few months, and (along with Fuera De Sektor) my summer soundtrack. Not that it was much of a fucking summer, but this spot-on modern day take on classic SoCal Punk Rock is a triumph and destined for much future turntable mileage. Was stoked to feature them in issue 73 too.
CHAIN CULT – HARM REDUCTION LP (LVEUM)
It took until the mid-Eighties to have my senses roused to the likes of The Chameleons and Sound. Had a profound effect on my listening habits. It’s music that’s stuck with me since, and it’s been interesting how, in recent decades, lots of younger bands have picked up on it. For me, Greece’s Chain Cult are a group that’ve soaked up those influences, and juiced it up, exacting fresh angst ‘n dynamics into their own songwriting. I like ‘em a lot, and new album ‘Harm Reduction’ is 27minutes of punchy tension and defiance, reflecting the turmoil of Planet Earth 2024.
FLOWER – PHYSICAL GOD / HEEL OF THE NEXT 7” (Fight for Your Mind)
Graham Sleightholme included their album in his 2023 round-up and inspired me to check them out. I came across this (then) newly released 7” and it stayed glued to my turntable. Hard hitting riff heavy anthemic New York Crust, Nausea style. Was gutted to have missed them when they toured UK in September.
FAST BLOOD – SUNNY BLUNTS LP (Sangre Rapida)
I really don’t know a lot about Fast Blood, except they are from the UK North-East, and members have played in other bands. They have a bright/bursting sound that to these ragged ears is like a collision between Leatherface, Wipers ‘n Life… But How to Live It? The heavily accented North-Eastern vocals are fantastic, as are the songs about female empowerment, and the rant at the limited visions of those in a “Small Town” is spot on… “Are you still reading The Daily Mail? Reading right-wing bullshit all day long. You’re narrow minded, fucking scum”. Yeah, tremendous slab of vinyl.
BAD BREEDING – CONTEMPT LP (One Little Independent)
Having dragged my heels a bit on getting into Bad Breeding’s latest opus, once it had blasted my lugholes, I was duly rapt. Am returning to ‘Contempt’ with regularity. The white-hot anger and tempered ferocity packs cathartic energy, and they keep pushing themselves with each release. Menacing 5+ minutes opener “Temple of Victory” sets the scene for ‘Contempt’. The addition of Idy (ex-State Funeral) on guitar has amplified the sonic damage, he’s a wild shredder. Nudging me to ‘Contempt’ was an excellent/lengthy interview with frontman Chris in Raising Hell #30, where he talks about their hometown Stevenage, discovering Crass. Spiderleg, Clay releases from records his dad passed down to him, and getting in touch with Peter Kennard to collaborate on the sleeve art. Mighty Powerful Album.
FUERA DE SEKTOR – JUEGOS PROHIBIDOS LP (LVEUM)
Oh, this album is wonderful; loaded jagged songs that pack catchy melancholic vibrancy, with moody vocals ‘n layered razor sharp guitar lines ‘n subtle riffs. This Barcelona based group have delivered a brilliant record here. Has a haunting ‘Hell Comes to Your House’ vibe that’s shrouded in a muggy early Eighties UK fog. I was in Madrid working on a bright/hot day soon after getting this album. A volume test was required of the audio/visual equipment we were installing, so I hooked ‘Juegos Prohibidos’ up by Bluetooth to my phone, and as opener “El Mundo Sigue” thundered around the room people were grinning ‘n bopping along. A lovely moment to lodge in the memory bank. Absolutely Love this Album.
REDUCED – S/T EP (Brassneck)
I raved about the demo from this Nottingham powerhouse, then the vinyl pressing of its four tracks, so it’s a no-brainer this was gonna make my Year End list. Highly invigorating tuneage that’s proved a pure sprit lifter. And we’ve all needed plenty of that these past 12 months.
SPLIT SYSTEM - VOL. II LP (Drunken Sailor)
The debut album by this Melbourne band was gold standard, and although this follow up DIDN’T entirely grab me in the same way on first play, a couple of spins was all it took for the snappy songs to worm their way into my thick head. The caustic/passionate vocals are fantastic, and the tracks come soaring out the speakers like a rocket. Real tight compositions that are the product of soaking up their country’s long/rich alternative musical history, and a reminder that it’s always been there if you’d been bothered to look. Looking forward to Vol. III.
STRAW MAN ARMY – EARTHWORKS LP (LVEUM)
A very late entry, but even on limited plays I’m sold on SMA’s 3rd album. This New York duo fuse penetrating Moss Icon atmospherics with a discordant Zounds/Mob vibe, that’s reinterpreted with their own defiant musical bent. It’s sharp ‘n angry music moving at a thoughtful ‘n decisive pace. There’s a visual quality to what they do, and this plays out like the ominous soundtrack to a disintegrating world.
M.I.A. – MURDER IN A FOREIGN PLACE (40th Anniversary) LP (Modern City)
I’m not sure of the rules here, and whether reissues are approved of in THESE round-ups. But this is so good that I’m willing to face the consequences. Housed in a sturdy screen-printed sleeve, reproducing the original cover art, side one of my (orange vinyl) copy features all 11 songs from the monumental ‘Murder in a Foreign Place’ album. On the other side is the six-song Green Carton Studios demo from November ’83, and then two further ’84 demo tracks, with the previously unreleased “Help Me Up” being the real find. If that wasn’t enough, my copy came with a 7” of a pair of songs that appeared on compilations, including “Just a Dream” from Flipside Vol.2. Am digging the Baboon Dooley styled lettering! There’s also a lyric sheet, real cool booklet of flyers, photos ‘n contributions from those in ‘n around the band, and, just to push the boat out completely, a neat M.I.A. tee shirt. Modern City have truly excelled here with this package.
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Alan Marshall
Top 10 records
Well this year has whistled past in the blink of an eye! Putting this together, I found myself listing records that came out last year and even the year before and probably featured on last years top 10 list, but I think I have eventually whittled it to a more up to date selection.
Here we go, in no apparent order apart from no. 1, which knocked my socks off and couldn’t rank anywhere else!!
10 – Pizza Tramp – The Last Supper – TNS – Another helping of brilliant thrashy lunacy from the boys. With songs like Flagshaggers United and Mr Slam on the roster there is hope for punk rock after all. Proper tidy!
9 – Dark Harvest Commandos – S/T 7” – Sanctus Propaganda – Ripping hardcore riffs and huge production. These songs rattled around my head for most of the later half of this year.
8 – Retsu – S/T LP – 783 Punk – Solid old school D-Beat all the way, with some really interesting post punky bits and punishing vocals throw in to keep us old buggers on our guard.
7 – CRAM – Total Eco War – Self Released – Spanning genres from Hawkwind to Peni to Rap, this collaborative and imaginative album was destined for the hits list. Beautifully anarcho, and disturbingly folk-horror vibes.
6 – Picket Wounds – Cultist Reckoning / Final Days – Bandcamp – Bleak and brutal as all good sludgy hardcore should be. Old pals making a crunchingly heavy debut, what’s not to like!
5 – Crom – Early Shit 1994 to 2004 – Pessimiser – As chaotic and loose around the edges (and the middle) as its possible to get and still lay down massive riffs. 43 out of print and out of tune classics.
4 – Amass – Gamekeepers Gallows – Grow Your Own – glorious old school anarcho-punk with lyrics about modern times with all its 21st century insanity. A truly addictive album with a whole heap of inspiring sing along anthems.
3 – Hetze – Until I Snap – Loner Cult – Brash and fearless, up in your grille hardcore tunes. Acerbic and punchy nuggets of songs which bop you in the gut and are gone before you know what got ya.
2 - Disciple BC – Blood. Power. Sacrifice – Agipunk, Black Cloud – Wow! This is a belter! 13 tracks of diabolical (in its true sense) satanic preaching straight from the mouth of the Reverend Schnider and his backing band of imps. Anti-Cimex meets Hammer Horror.
1 – Dead Pioneers – S/T 12” – Hassle – Album of the year! As soon as I heard the promo Bad Indian I sought out a copy and it has been on constant repeat. Insightful and pissed off in equal measure with songs from the OFF! and MDC school of pissed offness.
Top 10 Gigs
I had a whole bunch to choose from this year and some really good ones had to be jettisoned to pare it down to 10. Living half way between Glasgow and Edinburgh really is a blessing as there is always something great going on at either one, often both. Again, In no particular order.
10 -Rank / Gutterblood – The Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh – Both bands stormed it and despite John’s protestations that he was losing his voice, he ripped the roof off. Great to see old pals from Brizzle, and new ones from Edinburgh.
9 – Bratakus / Doss – The Rum Shack, Glasgow – Went along to this one with Mr Jochen and both of us with horrible hangovers. Doss were a weird blend of boy band meets Sleaford Mods, but Bratakus delivered as only they know how. Great stuff.
8 – Dark Harvest Commandos / Go Down Fighting – Bloc, Glasgow – Intense tough hardcore from Go Down Fighting which is not often my thing, but they were really great. DHC were smashing! Bass fuzz up to 11 and everything at breakneck speed. Everything a Monday night should be.
7 – Napalm Death / Primitive Man / Pig Destroyer / Wormrot – QM Union Hall, Glasgow – With a line up like that you know your ears are in for a whooping! Absolute aural carnage. ND were magnificent but I think Primitive Man were cream of the crop. Sonic drudgery with the deepest vocals I have ever experienced. And I bumped into Angus Sedition and Darragh too which was lovely.
6 – Endless Swarm / PFL / Chou / Houkago Grind Time / Myxoma / Village Auntie – Bannermans, Edinburgh – Another ear battering courtesy of all the bands. Endless Swarm always give 110% and it was a sweaty one. Local powerviolence band Chou were also a favourite. One to watch for next year.
5 – Jesus and Mary Chain – Usher Hall, Edinburgh – Exactly what you want the lads from East Kilbride to deliver, sultry moodiness, minimal lighting and hit after hit. Going to see them again at The Barrowlands in a few weeks, cant wait.
4 – Bodycount – SWG3, Glasgow – What a show! A touch too much casual misogyny for my liking but everything else was spot on, loud and in your face. Ice T bringing his 8 year old daughter on to introduce Motherfucking Cop Killer was genius!
3 – Rash Decision / Ohrains / Kaddish / Slowmove – The Old Hairdressers , Glasgow – Lots of whispy shoegazing stuff on offer. Ohrains had a great Weakerthans vibe which I liked a lot, and then Rash came on and ripped the place a new one! Lovely to catch up with team Decision and they brung the noise!
2 – Amass / TDB / CRAM / Collision Course – The Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh – I’ve been lucky enough to see and play alongside Amass a few times this year (and a few more as System and The Alternative). They never disappoint, and them and CRAM are a lovely little network of punk rock pals to have. TDB from Aberdeen were new to me, but great powerviolency punk stuff.
1 – The Restarts plus a whole bunch of other bands that I cannot recall – Crammond Island Punk Fest, Edinburgh – It’s 30 odd years since I was last out at Crammond Island to see Oi Polloi, but its great to know the fest is still going strong. All the bands were great and there is a lovely punk community feel to the place. Thrown Away, our stablemates from Stirling were wonderfully chaotic and Disorderesque. The Restarts were faultless and wrapped it all up perfectly. So much so that they had to play about 10 encores before anyone would let them leave.
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TOP 10 Of 2024. Stuart Armstrong
1. No brainer for number 1, it just has to be a certain book ‘Running At The Edge Of Their World - The Suspect Device Fanzine Story’. An honour to be able to contribute just a little bit and what a great book, a must for any discerning Punk Rocker or otherwise.
2. Another book, ‘Your Neighbour Is Killing Puppies’. A must read for anyone against Animal Experimentation and Cruelty.
3. Off With Their Heads - Inhale Exhale Smile LP. On the first hearing, I thought this was a bit far away from the norm of OWTH’s but, what an album, only six songs, bloody hell, it’s good.
4. Faintest Idea - The Road To Sedition LP. I’m not a massive fan of Ska/Punk, I’m not saying I don’t like it, it just needs to done well and these guys do it really well.
5. Seeing my youngest Grandson score his first goal at Sunday Football. Smallest, youngest (8years old) player on the pitch and he scored a cracker, left footed from outside the box, placed it perfectly.
6. Seeing Armoured Flu Unit for the first time along with Rubella ballet and Conflict.
7. Custody - II LP. I bought their first LP and loved that. This is one is better. I ordered it from Shield Recordings in the Netherlands and they sent me the wrong one. Apologised, told me to give that to a mate, which I did and sent me the correct LP a couple of weeks later with a free single. Hence the reason for Number 8
8. Shield Recordings - See number 7.
9. Grow Your Own Records for continuing to put out top notch Punk Fooking Rock!!
10. Split System - Vol II. Great Aussie punk rock, blooming marvellous.
That’s my top 10, bit boring compared to some I expect. Looking forward to a lot more punk rock releases and books next year. 2025 - Bring It ON!!!
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Steve Punky Littleton
FENWAR s/t Great slab of anarcho punk from Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, find of the year for me
FAST BLOOD- Sunny Blunts LP - Would love to see them live, really like the fact the Geordie accent really comes across
MURO- Nuevo Dogma LP Colombias finest, they get better and better
VAXINE- Frontal Lobotomy LP Angry punk from NYC
BAD BREEDING- Contempt LP Another informative great release from Stevenages finest
MIRAGE- Legato Allo Rovina LP Italian NYC punk, great find
FAUCHEUSE- Reve Electrique LP Bordeaux d beat,
ABYECTA- Enemigos de la Razon single Powerful and angry release Catalan/ Chile
GUERRA FINAL- Purgatorio single Last minute entry from pissed off Latino Texans,
All the Shitty Futures gigs I went to , kept me sane in a shit year. Stand out bands Agnosy, Sanctus Iuda, Active Minds, Rat Cage, and Enzyme and No Future, both from Australia
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Graham Sleightholme
In no particular order and missing a few things which depending on my mood might have made the cut…..
S.H.I.T - For a Better World LP (La Vida / Iron Lung)
This Canadian mob have been at it for 10 years now and they have not mellowed with age. If you caught their jaw dropping sets (especially Static Shock) on the couple of times they`ve been to the UK you know this lot are firing on all cylinders. Think of The Nurse from Japan but with huge production and a bloke singing like his life depended on it. The drums are bouncing and underpinning the chaos as the guitars let rip. 14 minutes only here and it will leave you wanting more but you`ll be blasting the songs `Terminal Democracy` and `imminent destruction` over and over again. Cover art rounds this out nicely.
BloodStains - S/T (Drunken Sailor)
The main selling point here is that this Califonian trio completely nailed down the sound of SoCal punk so so well. You`d be forgiven for thinking you have stumbled across an unearthed Agent Orange, Channel 3 or DI LP. Catchy as hell and a perfect soundtrack to summer. The song `Anti-Social` is a stand out but there's no filler here. `Nuclear Age` has a guitar flare that reminded me of Exit Order for a moment but then it's back into the classic 80s sound. Lyrically it is pretty downbeat but delivered in a way you`ll still sing along to it with a smile on your face which is odd as `Stray Bullets` and `Suburban suicide` are bleak. I really hope they come over to the UK and play. Glad this got a reissue and on a UK label as I really really wanted this on vinyl.
Split System - Vol.2 (Drunken Sailor)
Australia keeps churning out great stuff and Split System are in the mix for my favourite. The 1st LP was cracking but on this one they have dug into Saints territory more than before and it totally works. The tune `End of the Night` is worth paying for the LP alone but the whole LP flows really well and tunes like `Alone Again` whilst slower are no less considered and have great introspective lyrics. They do stray away from “punk” into more rock / pub rock stuff but in a way that works and it's what Aussie bands are good at. All eleven songs are memorable and had me hooked from the off. If you like Eddy Current, Civic or C.o.f.f.i.n you`ll lap this up. The only downer is the rubbish artwork which does them no favours at all. Also 2nd entry on Drunken Sailor on my list. The labels got my attention.
Fuera De Sektor - Juegos Prohibidos LP (La Vida Es Un Mus)
Confession time. I dismissed this LP whilst playing it at work and not paying attention. Talked into picking it up by Pete Craven i`ve come to really fall for this album in a big way. Barcelona based FDS deliver up 11 songs of unique catchy, angular, post punk. There`s some weird flange guitar action and off kilter music underpinning some stunning songs and the vocals laid over the top make this a total gem. The guitar swirls around making all sorts of hooks and angular chops, the bass and drums hold it all together so well. Songs like `Necesito Combustible` are beautiful. I might have done daft dancing in the kitchen once or twice whilst singing along to the odd word i can pick out. This is an album for years and years to come.
SLAN - Agd - 12”(Autoreverse)
This is the most intense record of the year for me. Hands down,no ones touching this. Sweden's SLAN has knocked me on my arse with this. Once the opener `Stanken av Doda Kroppar` gets going you`ll be reminded of greats like UUTUUS and especially SHITLICKERS but with that heavy Swedish production / sound bands like WOLFBRIGADE are getting. This record is unrelenting and it's a surprise they can keep the level so high for the duration. Agd is a Scandinavian Jawdropper. A must have for fans of Mangel, Kang, D-Beat, call it what you will, it will sit atop the pile. Also whilst you`re buying this check out the other releases on the great Autoreverse Records. Great label.
INVERTEBRATES - Sick to Survive LP (Beach Impediment Records)
Richmond, Virginia 4 piece put in a huge shift in town playing after RAT CAGE earlier this year. I didn`t think they`d pull it off but they did, and that is no mean feat! On this record they pull no punches and you get 10 songs which in places gets me thinking of the 1st POISON IDEA ep on the song `laughing system` and early C.O.C for the sheer wall of speed and ferocious delivery . Repeated plays and flipping it over and over moved this quickly into my top 10. It does exactly what a great Hardcore record needs to do.
KRIEGSHOG - Love and Revenge (LA Vida Es Un Mus)
14 years since their last LP and 5 years since the last 7Inch. Hardly Prolific but Tokyos Kriegshog are definitely dealing in Quality over quantity. There`s 8 songs in 22 minutes and there is a lot to be getting on with.. To me it took at least 2 or 3 plays for the album to settle in, yes it's not as intense as the 1st LP but i like that i can pick out newer influences in amongst the chaos. Opener `Koku` has that GBH gallop and title track `Love and Revenge` just oozes BLACK FLAG`s `Thirsty and Miserable` but mangled into their own tune. This isn't a criticism though as the whole album has a distinct feel that only a Japanese band could pull off and they do. The production is crisp and clear and the band have really focussed in on what they`re doing on each song and by consequence have made something the flows really well and leaves behind a very memorable LP.
FAST BLOOD - Sunny Blunts (Sangre Rapida Records)
This is the album i`ve probably played the most this year. Newcastle's Fast Blood have put down a massive marker as to how to do melodic punk with style. Abigail's vocals are simply amazing with a range from howling screams to beautiful harmony and a regional accent to top it off. This band just brings a smile to my face as they knock out 9 captivating songs. When i say songs i mean ones that unlike a lot of my record collection actually sound different from one to the other. Each is memorable and tells a story which Abigail is desperate to tell. You get nods to LEATHERFACE here and there in the technical and intricate dept. You also get elements of SOFA HEAD on say `Eyes Wide Shut`. It feels like Fast Blood are taking their regional heritage and melding it into another high point for others to aim for. Whilst the word melodic is easily applied to this there are songs like `Small Town` which are as pissed off and angry as anything out there. Songs are sung and tales of lifes often grim reality are delivered in a way that are stunningly well written.
To think this nearly didn`t come out after the original label Scene Report vanished into thin air leaving them in the lurch is testament to their resolve. The band dug deep and put it out themselves. Top stuff.
ASSISTERT SJOLMORD - Self Titled (Static Shock)
Ooof 7 raging songs from this Norwegian outfit. Last year i rattled on about INDRE KRIG and how amazing they were. This year A.S are channelling a similar thing for me, a great take on Hardcore with their feet firmly planted in todays world and political climate, the message across the back sleeve `The music we love has no relevance without the liberation of the oppressed` and a huge foldout `Long live Palestine` poster tells you all. The seven songs in just over 8 minutes have been said to sound like Japan's COMES but I am also hearing stuff like Dutch punks NOG WATT. The drumming has a UK82 kick to it, simple, speedy and effective. Nothing flash, but done in a way to allow the vocals and guitars to stand out. Its a clever trick and i`m not putting the drummer down at all. They as a band just worked out how to use that beat to its best effect. Vocals are belter out and make you pay attention. I am totally regretting missing this lot live as the songs on here are total fist in the air pogo hardcore. Loving the cover art and attention to the insert and sleeve. I very rarely buy singles these days but this is a no brainer.
LEGAL WEAPON - No Sorrow (Mono Records)
At Last this early 80s gem gets a reissue. Legal Weapon are for me tragically overlooked in the history of L.A punk. Whilst releasing this 12inch and 2 LPs at the time as a band they have been forgotten by a lot of people. This release contains the original 5 songs on the elusive and expensive 12inch with an additional couple of live songs from 1980. Their sound is a slight holdover from the 70s (tunes!) and into early hardcore. Put next to 45 Grave and Gun Club though and they don`t seem too out of place for what was going on. They deliver songs like `Pow Pow` which have melody, catchy hooks and power but also `Hostility` which is more akin to the burgeoning hardcore scene. The exceptional singer Kat really stands head and shoulders above most of her peers from the time and is comparable to Exene from X. There is a great booklet that comes with this and the photos are from renowned snapper Ed Colver. If you have any interest in great early US punk and you`ve not encountered Legal Weapon before you need to check this band out. Also pick up the LPs as songs like `Equalizer` are incredible.
also in the running - Kissland 7 inch, Subdued - abbatoir LP, Industry LP, Gimic 7 EP......
Gig wise….I thought Imploders, Invertebrates, Enzyme and Rat Cage were all totally great. I`ve been pretty anti-social but also unlucky in missing a few bands I wanted to, top of that list being Flower.
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Crispin Mumbles
Top 10 bands which don’t have “The” as part of their name
- Sex Pistols
- Buzzcocks
- Skids
- X-Ray Spex
- UK Subs.
- Stiff Little Fingers
- Wire.
- Dead Kennedys
- Public Image Limited
- Minor Threat
My preference for these groups may go some way to explaining why I hate The The so fucking much, either that or just the fact that they were crap. Jingly bollocks to one and all. C. Mumbles esq.
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5 records that have been rocking my world in 2024 (Darren ‘Tadpole’ Bourne)
Kriegshög “Love & Revenge” LP
Their debut LP on La Vida Es Un Mus is amazing, I find myself checking out who it is, every time a track comes on shuffle because I forget how damn good this band are. Love & Revenge has a more rocking sound, I guess less “crust punk” but that really is no bad thing, it’s heavy bass driven, and as soon as that intro starts, it’s a non-stop relentless masterpiece of Japanese Hardcore Punk Rock.
Potere Negativo “Benvenuto All'Inferno” 12”
This may only be a 1 sided 12”, but man do they nail the classic ’80s Italian hardcore sound. Fans of Raw Power, Declino, Wretched or CCM take note & that screamed angst style of vocals, where the singer is screaming out every damn word & you sit up and listen.
S.H.I.T “For A Better World” MLP
Toronto’s S.H.I.T are anything but shit. This 7-track mini-LP is a furious blast from start to finish, with pummelling drums kicking straight in & taking you on a D-Beat masterclass. I don’t think they’ve done a bad record, but I personally really like the mix on this one & every track is so damn good.
Industry “A Self Portrait”LP
A lot of times a review says “Anarcho Sounding” or “80’s Peace Punk” and for me they don’t quite get the sound, or even the songs right. But these guys nail that sound & have that almost atmospheric pissed off style, that would fit on any Crass Records style mix tape. A great cover of They Kill Dogs, so if you were a fan of Exit Stance, this may be a band you need to check out. Following these guys on Instagram, they seem to have good politics as well, so that’s always a bonus for me.
Träume "WRZASK" 12”
Poland’s Träume take their sound from legendary 80s punk and new wave bands like Siekiera, and just like Siekiera these guys write great tunes. Vinyl out on Quality Control Records & this really is some quality punk rock. I think if you enjoyed the early days of Belgrado, you may want to give this a go, the perfect mix of new wave for a dance & punk for that pogo.
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Marv Gadgie TOP TEN OF 2024
1) PRISCILLA
A new movie by Sofia Coppola will always get me out of the house and seeking it out at art house cinemas or quiet hours screenings. Bit of a fan here. This biopic of The King of Rock N’ Roll’s missus was a proper treat on a cold and clear skied Monday in January. The opening scene of a set of bare feet, with painted toe nails walking over a plush carpet, is probably the most “Sophia Coppola thing” ever filmed and in typical fashion, not much really happens. It was of course wonderful. The two daft lasses who joined me on the other side of an otherwise empty cinema, who spent the first forty five minutes playing on their phones and chatting before getting up and leaving missed out. People eh? They’re a mystery to me.
2) TWELVE CUBIC FEET “STRAIGHT OUT THE FRIDGE” LP (SEALED RECORDS)
I don’t know where Paco finds these bands but find them he does. Punk Rock Archaeology of the highest order, he’s like Indiana Jones for lost Punk Rock bands and this one had me transfixed. Totally hypnotic, rather bizarre and most peculiar indeed. Some fabled band of days of yore that I’d never heard, it’s all anyone in our house actually heard in the Spring months. Post Punk of the most esoteric kind that had me thinking of the soundtrack to one of thise weird pan European kids shows of the 80s like Silas or Heidi with badly dubbed voiceovers or that strange Storyteller programme … “I’m the storyteller, and my story must be told …” The 80s was a weird time to be a kid and by the sound of it, a weird time to be in to Post Punk bands like Twelve Cubi Feet. I mean, even the name is bafflingly odd.
3) POST PUNK 1977-1981 BOX SET (CHERRY RED)
These little box sets that are coming out at quite a pace from the likes of Cherry Red are a most pleasing method of acquiring large amounts of tuneage that don’t cause storage solution issues. Five discs and a booklet in a shelf friendly square box that sits alongside similar boxes from March Violets, The Vapors, Conflict and T-Rex, there’s a wealth of glorious stuff on here. Some obvious bands but not so obvious choices, some forgotten classics and some new discoveries, all of it charmingly experimental, odd and very much of its time, and what a time that was.
4) LAS RATAPUNKS LIVE AT BILLY BOOTLEGGERS, NOTTINGHAM
It’s not often you get the opportunity to go off on a midweek adventure to catch a Peruvian Punk quartet kicking up a rumpus is it? Las Ratapunks are four furious women from Peru playing hyperactive anarchic Punk and it was pretty intoxicating stuff. One of those gigs that pops up around the time of a big festival – this time MPF – where bands from further afield add a few warm up or post festival dates to make it worth their while and it certainly was worth my while. Whatever that means. Not only that, there was Vipera, a Croatian trio, on before them decked out in denim, leather, mullets and moustaches going full Motorhead worship. Utter filth. As if that wasn’t bonkers enough, we also got the insanity that is Sex Germs too. Cripes.
5) PREY/THUMBSUCKER/FILTHCOLLINS/NU LIVE AT STUCK ON A NAME, NOTTINGHAM
Driving to this gig with Luke Mayhem, we were discussing how we like to check out all the bands on a bill and don’t get why folk give the “support acts” a miss. Then we arrived and proved ourselves to be absolutely spot on as tonight’s first band were the spellbinding Jorvik crust trio Nu. Heavens to Betsy! They were incredible and, truth be told, a little bit terrifying. I described them afterwards as looking and sounding like the mysterious cowl wearing folk who lived in a cave in Sherwood Forest that Robin Hood would seek out when in need of supernatural intervention and wise, otherworldly counsel. Gadzooks.
6) OPEN SEASON ALL DAYER, CHAPEL, MIDDLESBROUGH
Our Mam was delighted when I told her that I was heading Teesside-wards to go to Chapel and our lad, Simbad, was gonna join us ‘n all. Open Season were back with a mighty fine line up in Middlesbrough and the long road trip home was well worth it. Great line up – especially Misfortune Cookie who just get better every time I see them, Fast Blood’s blazing melodies and local legends Onlooker with a blunt sledgehammer of a headline set – and a good chance to catch up with the great and the good of North East Punk plus a few old school friends like Clemo, who hosted the infamous party when we were kids that involved, amongst other incidents, lots of Megadeth, a broken video cabinet and Boomer accidentally asking some lads from Loftus if they wanted to commit lewd sex acts with him. It’s a long story and certainly not one for telling in Chapel. #UTB
7) FAST BLOOD SUNNY BLUNTS LP (SANGRA RAPIDA)
Oh aye! Every year, Lunch Time For The Wild Youth zine does an “Album off the Year” issue and this is getting my vote this year. Melodic, driving, singalong, thunderous … this LP has it all. In my review of it I namechecked Brain F=, Natterers, Sofa Head, Dan, Leatherface and Descendents and if that doesn’t get you all excitable and jumping about then you might as well give up mate.
8) ANTI SYSTEM ARMOURED FLU UNIT DERBY
The Derby Punks have worked wonders to get The Victoria Inn back up and in shape as the place to be over in their city. For a while in the 90s and early 2000s it was a hotbed of local and international Punk mayhem, but then, for whatever reason, fell silent. Long gone were the days of seeing Dropkick Murphys , DRI, Agnostic Front and MDC in that tiny back room but fear not! The Vic is back. As well as seeing Conflict, Discharge and, most recently, Poundaflesh and The Varukers there lately, I made the effort on a Sunday afternoon to catch this smashing matinee gig. Did I mention they are all Sunday matinee gigs? I know! Great, right? Old Punks don’t die, but they do like to be home in time for Match of the Day 2.
9) EASTFIELD “TERMINUS” 10” (GROW YOUR OWN)
You know what you are getting with Eastfield don’t you? Yet I still buy everything they knock out and I still love whatever comes my way from Jessie and the gang. Cheeky, perky, tune laden Punk Rock that has a Pop Art quality to it in the way that the lyrics take every day mundane references and turns them in to infectious Punk ditties. The little scamps.
10 STARVE ACRE
Another film and watching this weird Folk Horror tale as the Autumnal weather and dark nights set in seemed the perfect setting to appreciate the bleak 70s Yorkshire Moors world “Starve Acre” creates and the even bleaker lives of those involved. Probably best if you see it without knowing anything so I’ll refrain from adding much more beyond this: if you enjoyed the Icelandic oddity “Lamb” you should check this out. And maybe seek professional help while yer on.
As usual, the Top Ten is just done and dusted and then something wonderful turns up. This year it’s the marvellous new LP by THE CURE … am I allowed an 11?
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TOP 10 Of 2024. Stuart Armstrong
1. No brainer for number 1, it just has to be a certain book ‘Running At The Edge Of Their World - The Suspect Device Fanzine Story’. An honour to be able to contribute just a little bit and what a great book, a must for any discerning Punk Rocker or otherwise.
2. Another book, ‘Your Neighbour Is Killing Puppies’. A must read for anyone against Animal Experimentation and Cruelty.
3. Off With Their Heads - Inhale Exhale Smile LP. On the first hearing, I thought this was a bit far away from the norm of OWTH’s but, what an album, only six songs, bloody hell, it’s good.
4. Faintest Idea - The Road To Sedition LP. I’m not a massive fan of Ska/Punk, I’m not saying I don’t like it, it just needs to done well and these guys do it really well.
5. Seeing my youngest Grandson score his first goal at Sunday Football. Smallest, youngest (8years old) player on the pitch and he scored a cracker, left footed from outside the box, placed it perfectly.
6. Seeing Armoured Flu Unit for the first time along with Rubella ballet and Conflict.
7. Custody - II LP. I bought their first LP and loved that. This is one is better. I ordered it from Shield Recordings in the Netherlands and they sent me the wrong one. Apologised, told me to give that to a mate, which I did and sent me the correct LP a couple of weeks later with a free single. Hence the reason for Number 8
8. Shield Recordings - See number 7.
9. Grow Your Own Records for continuing to put out top notch Punk Fooking Rock!!
10. Split System - Vol II. Great Aussie punk rock, blooming marvellous.
That’s my top 10, bit boring compared to some I expect. Looking forward to a lot more punk rock releases and books next year. 2025 - Bring It ON!!!
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SID
1. Fear Of The Known - The Last Song LP (https://phobiarecords.bandcamp.com/album/fear-of-the-known-the-last-song-lp)
2. Adrestia - Requiem LP (https://adrestia.bandcamp.com/album/requiem)
3. No Humans - Split Peace LP (https://nohumans.bandcamp.com/album/split-peace)
4. Kärzer - White Phosphorous EP (https://karzer.bandcamp.com/album/white-phosphorus-ep)
5. Nuclear Man / Human Target - split EP (https://nuclearman.bandcamp.com/album/nuclear-man-human-target & https://humantargethc.bandcamp.com/album/human-target-nuclear-man)
6. Deviated Instinct - Dance Of The Plague Bearer EP (https://deviatedinstinct.bandcamp.com/album/dance-of-the-plague-bearer)
7. Ancient Lights - Spite Wall EP (https://ancientlightspunx.bandcamp.com/album/spite-wall-ep)
8. Skallar - Demo 2024 (https://skallar.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2024)
9. Downwinder - Claws Of Despair LP (https://downwinder.bandcamp.com/album/claws-of-despair-2)
10. Jesse LeBourdais feat. feat. Ruby LeBourdais - We Howl (https://jesselebourdais.bandcamp.com/track/we-howl-feat-ruby-lebourdais)
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David Gamage
1, Sleave – How To Get Over
2, Oh The Humanity – Ground To Dust
3, Raincheck – Highbro Lowbro
4, Hot Water Music – Vows
5, Touche Amore – Spiral In A Straight Line
6, Rad Owl - Rage Gracefully
7, Sammy Kay – July 1960
8, Fucked Up – Another Day
9, King Of Pigs – After Victory Comes Defeat
10, Abermals – Believe
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Peter Finch: Top Ten of 2024
01: Straw Man Army - “Earthworks” (LVEUM)
I was truly jubilant when the first SMA album was released. To my ears, it felt like the band was channeling a similar vibe to that evoked by The Apostles on the peerless “Punk Obituary” record.
I was stoked to read their interview, in a recent issue of Artcore, whereby they heralded the self same album as a major influence.
An interesting aspect of this band is that different people get a different listening experience from the same source material. For example, my longest serving friend appreciates SMA for evoking the spirit of the minutemen as opposed to The Apostles.
This third album is certainly no disappointment. If the thought of a parallel universe wherein the minutemen are jamming on Apostles tunes intrigues you, go fill your boots.
02: J. Mascis - “What do we do Now” (Sub Pop)
It is impossible not to mention Dinosaur Jr. when considering a Mascis solo album. He is, of course, the very essence of Dinosaur Jr. It would be a mistake though to assume that his solo work amounts to little more than Dinosaur Jr. “unplugged”. These songs are clearly written with a more acoustic presentation in mind. None of the overdriven wha-wha that is inclined to drive certain persons gah-gah.
A late winter release that certainly evoked the promise of the advent of spring.
03: X - “Smoke & Fiction” (Fat Possum)
Widely reported to be the final X album. Drop the needle anywhere on this album and you will be richly rewarded. Successive summer spins of this outstanding album were always a joy. Remarkable that a band of such longevity could summon a collection of songs so strong.
A fine point for X to exit on.
04: Reigns - “Dead Centre” (Wrong Speed Records)
A book with a compact disc housed within. Reigns consists of two brothers and is a studio project. The music on the cd is essentially a soundtrack to the novel which it accompanies.
I read the book in a few sittings and it evoked images that still haunt me now. The cd still spins routinely in the car and certainly has its own haunting qualities.
05: Fu Manchu - “The Return of Tomorrow” (At the Dojo)
The first studio album in six years was certainly no disappointment. These gentlemen have assembled an arsenal of gargantuan riffs that would take many guitarists six lifetimes to amass.
A band comprising persons that cut their teeth obsessed with hardcore now channeling 70s Californian culture and heavy rock through their own unique lens.
What’s not to love?
06: Dead Pioneers - “Self Titled” (Hassle Records)
Arguably the best example of punk remaining a valid form of social commentary in 2024.
Perfectly pellucid protest songs that will linger lastingly in your memory. Many identified classic MDC as a comparison musically. Lyrically, you would have to travel far and wide to find such intelligence presented with such eloquence.
07: Chain Cult - “Harm Reduction” (LVEUM)
Chain Cult give me the same sonic shivers as Naked Raygun are prone to do.
Shimmering shards of molten mercurial guitars lap at the shores. Powerful and anthemic vocals tower above.
08: Canal Irreal - “Someone Else’s Dance” (Beach Impediment)
To my ears, this is another band mining the vein of latter day Blitz in terms of guitar. The rhythms have a compelling binary urgency that channel the early days of video game soundtracks. All overlaid with Martin’s flawless vocal melodies.
09: Burial Rot - Eyeteeth Split (At War With False Noise)
Burial Rot are essentially contemporary death metal played by gentlemen with their roots in hardcore. Their take on the genre is all the better for this.
Eyeteeth are self proclaimed straight edge anti-state power violence. If that in itself isn’t enough to arouse curiosity, there is no hope for you.
10: Slimelord - “Chytridiomycosis Relinquished” (20 Buck Spin)
Arguably the year’s best example of the vitality of contemporary death metal. A marvellously disorientating, discombobulating, psychedelic sonic tsunami. This one benefits from an undercurrent of truly mournful doom metal.
Death metal? Not dead yet.
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Iain Ratcliffe
High Vis - Guided Tour
Health - Rat Wars (Ultra Edition)
Asian Dub Foundation - 94-Now: Collaborations
Dead Pioneers - Dead Pioneers (LP)
Bed Maker - S/t
Human Impact - Gone Dark
Dead Bob - Life Like
Drug Church - Prude
Pig - Red Room
SOCK - 3243
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Rory - GIMIC
1. Unrest fest at Rockaway Park with Dissekerad, Vidro, A Culture Of Killing, Tramadol…
2. Getting back on a skateboard for the first time in my 30s
3. Discovering the music of Amps For Christ - revelatory.
4. Sharing a stage with The Marked Men, Swell Maps, Lung Leg, Melt-Banana, The Uranium Club, Imploders, Judy and The Jerks, and so many other amazing bands.
5. Sean from Hard Skin announcing ‘fuck Thatcher and fuck Rory’ on stage at the Exchange
6. Straw Man Army’s ‘Earth Works’ LP
7. Seeing Rachel Love playing Dolly Mixture songs at The Thunderbolt.
8. Old and not-so-old books: More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon, Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee and August Blue by Deborah Levy.
9. Spending my birthday in a caravan in rural Devon
10. Records and tapes by Coeur A L’Index, Exo, Guided Light, Class, Alambrada, Muro, Kissland, ADD/C, Subdued, Assistert Sjolmord, Spatulas, G.U.N., The Smashing Times and of course GIMIC!
An honourable mention for the Mike Kelley exhibition at the Tate Modern, and Bristol band DOCILE, the ones to watch for 2025.
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Mike Head
Top 10 things of 24.
1. Bromley getting promoted at Wembley and being in EFL for first time.
2. Seeing Brigandage Live (at last)
3. Seeing Slow Faction
4. A much needed summer break with my Wife in lovely Chester
5. The The album Ensoulment , a nice change of pace
6. Interviewing author Koushik Banerjea for Tangled Lines
7. Crime tv adaptation of Irvine Welsh books
8.HomeFront Live
9. The Meffs going from strength to strength
10. Tories Out.
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Sean Forbes
1. Alvilda - C'est Déjà L’heure LP (Static Shock)
Every minute every inch and every song is lean locked in and upbeat with a tight and bright production. If you love 60’s girl pop but with a late 70’s power pop edge or Indie pop that has been raised on a diet of tuneful punk rock then Alvilda will be your new favourite band just like Dolly Mixture were just like Chin Chin were and just like Les Calamités were.
2. Mt Misery - Love in Mind LP (Prefect Records)
What’s there not to love?. They sound like the Teenage Fanclub and look like Northern blokes that live at a snooker club. Simply brilliant.
3. Nada! - Wargasm Festival 2024, Istanbul, Turkey - 9th November 2024
Sometimes you see a band and understand why punk is still important in modern times. Nada! are four Russians who escaped after the start of the war and re-located in Istanbul. Music is their release and their all. Nada! play dark and twisted post punk with hints of Belgrado or the Wipers. Their recorded work here is great https://nada-sic.bandcamp.com/album/tired But live in concert they were out of this world.
4. Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas Is You 7” (Epic)
One of the best ever christmas songs finally released on 7” single in the UK for the first time. Pure fucking class!! I never tire of hearing this unlike Slade which makes me wretch. I’m Wizard not Slade but then again I’m Mariah not Wizard, even though it’s a tight call.
5. The 4 Skins - The Original 4 Skins LP (Captain Oi!)
The question is how many times can a man buy the same record. And the answer is many. I have these 4 Skins songs hundreds of times in different versions but this handsomely packaged collection features loads of photos I’ve never seen. I woke up a few days ago and put this on first thing in the morning and started answering emails in the manor of the music. Aggressive, short and to the point.
6. Rat Hole - Rebellion Festival, Blackpool - Pavillion Stage Saturday 3rd of August 2024
There I was minding my own business, selling lots of Hard Skin Xl and 2XL shirts to the ageing punks at Rebellion festival and all of sudden this band came on the Pavillion stage and made me take note. I walked the three yards from the merch stall to watch the whole set from Rat Hole. They made me laugh, listen and love in their short 30 minute set. If Rugger Bugger was still a label, I’d have been all over them.
7. Various - Groucho Marxist Record Co : Operative LP (Sealed Records)
Sometimes re-releasing records is a pain in the arse, especially when bands think they should reform to help you or have no interest in their past. This compilation of the four Groucho Marxist label was the complete opposite. The bands were so generous with their time, archive and help. We ended up with a mammoth 40 page book to go with the album for these basically unknown bands from Paisley, Scotland. I mean where else can you talk to someone who performed in Scotland’s first ever reggae tribute band, after leaving XS Discharge.
8. Cœur À L’Index - Adieu Minette LP (La Vida es un Mus)
More indie pop meets Power pop goodness, from Brussels / Marseille. One listen and you’ll be hooked.
9. Ukrania - Polska Mafia - Demo 1985 7” EP (Warsaw Pact Records)
Warsaw Pact Records is an amazing archive label dedicated to releasing 80’s punk. I don’t know a lot of obscure Polish punk but nearly everything Warsaw Pact is a must own. Back in the day, when I was working at All the Madmen we used to get a Polish 7” in the post asking to trade with UK punk and so I ended up with so many copies of the Dezerter 7” and the TZN Xenna 7”. I was so blinkered I didn’t really appreciate them. But now I love them. Anyway Ukrania’s 1985 recordings and feral and ferocious.
10. Close Lobsters – John Peel Session 04 . 01 . 88 10” (Precious Recordings)
Precious Recordings are doing a sterling job of reissuing BBC sessions from all sorts of Indie pop bands from the 80’s onwards. I’m not a mad Close Lobsters fan but this session stands out because of the cover of the Mob’s Mirror Breaks, which at the time struck me as really an odd choice. Watch out for the Big Flame sessions LP coming next year which includes Testament To The Slow Death Of Youth Culture (Wake Me Up When It's Over) - a demented cover of Wham. hearing is believing.
11. Violent Disorder - Skinhead Worldwide 7” (Uprising)
The Violent Disorder 7” is a real treat. The B-Side 'Better than You’ is the real winner. Raging and full of vitriol. Just one minute and 41 seconds of pure brickwall Oi!
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