TONY SUSPECT
JOHN MCKAY - Sixes & Sevens LP
I am a big fan of Siouxsie & The Banshees, there’s something about them that has always struck a chord with me. The first two albums were among the first punk albums I bought and remain brilliant records. A lot of that is due to McKay’s guitar which is unique and utterly fantastic. After many years out of the limelight he’s back and it’s good to hear that wonderful sound again. All his own songs, but the echos of early Banshees are there. Kenny Morris even guests on one song. I hope I get to see him live at some point.
ARMOURED FLU UNIT - Carnyx LP& Live // HACK JOB - Hexbridge Youth Crew 7”
Of course these bands are friends and feature Abrazos members, but that’s not what they are here. Both sound as great as ever, AFU’s powerful anarcho songs are a force to be reckoned with and ‘Carnyx’ is brilliant. Meanwhile Hack Job return with a new EP which sees them doing what Hack Job do best, and that’s just what I want from them. I am constantly amazed at how talented my friends are.
GUTTERBLOOD - Good Dogs Will Never Die LP
I knew Gutterblood from the excellent ‘Gardyloo’ song from 2023. Then a few months ago they send a digital copy of their new album for review and it blew me away. So powerful and unique, I immediately ordered a physical copy and asked if they wanted to be in the zine, which they did (as you will have seen).
INSTIGATORS // DIAZ BROTHERS
2025 was the year that the Instigators came back into our lives. To be fair I have never stopped listening to their records, but I never thought I’d get to see them live again. But, 40 years after first seeing them, Gaz and me, along with Pete and so many other friends, were at The Underworld to see them again, and they were so good. They also re-released the ‘Full Circle/The Sleeper 7” on 12” with three new recordings of old songs. They played with the Diaz Brothers that night, five years after their debut album, brought us The World Is Yours LP and By My Side/My World 7”, both of which spent many an hour on the old gramophone. I also got to see them twice this year and they were bloody fantastic, as they always are.
DEAD PIONEERS
After an excellent debut album, Dead Pioneers followed it up with an even better second album, ‘Po$t American’. They were also excellent live, well worth the trip up to London. To finish the year they put out a digital single ‘Freedom Means Something’ and announced that they will be back in the UK early in 2026.
BRATAKUS
Bratakus are back, touring, and releasing great new music. First we got the ‘Final Girls’ tape, then the ‘Tokened’ digital single and then another digital singe, ‘Turnstile’, which saw them playing with a real drummer for one song. Not only that but they also got me a free ticket to see them play the Doune The Rabbit hole festival in Scotland when I just happened to be staying a few short miles away. They were brilliant, of course, but I also got to watch them with Alan who was at the festival. Really looking forward to seeing them in 2026, and getting to hear that long awaited second album.
GROW YOUR OWN RECORDS
GYO are a shining beacon of DIY punk rock, they do things properly and never fail to impress me with their releases. This year they’ve brought us the brilliant Armoured Flu Unit album, the wonderful D.O.V.E / The Dissidents split LP. Eastfield’s self titled album, plus records by Omega Tribe, and The Menstrual Cramps, Rites Of Hadda LP as well as giving the Sickness CD a vinyl release. They deserve all the love and support you can give them.
IMPLODERS - Targeted For Termination LP // SEX GERMS - Whiplash LP
Imploders were so good in Southampton last year, and I’ve been playing their first album and EP constantly this year, so was excited to get their second album, ‘Targeted For Termination’. It didn’t disappoint. Such a great band. I was a bit slow to get the Sex Germs album. I liked their demo but somehow missed the album, it was this issue’s Unrest write up by Graham that gave me the kick up the arse I needed. It is a remarkable record.
DARK HARVET COMMANDOS - Numb Down The Pain
Only just made it in time, but fucking hell this is good. Blistering punk rock that attacks capitalism and then shows us that the antidote is the DIY punk rock community. Good people making a great noise. I love them and I love this.
JODIE FASTER// ZERO AGAIN
Two of my current favourite bands, both fantastic live and both releasing stunning second albums. Jodie Faster blaze through 19 songs in just 21 minutes on the ‘Saint Lundi’ LP. They also made me drive over to Brighton on Easter Sunday to see them play the Cowley Club, and I thanked them for it. Sadly I didn’t get to see Zero Again this year, but their ‘Ever-Changing Is The Art Of Death’ LP is a brilliant record that has been played over and over and over this year.
Another ten: FORD’S FUZZ INFERNO - Ultimate Fuzz Frequencies LP // JJ & THE As - Rhetoric Of Trash LP // GRISTLE - Maximum Power CD & ‘Why Don’t You/Can’t Tell Gristle’ // CROW PEOPLE - ‘Wasteland’ LP // LOUDER THAN WASPS - LTW CD & Live // THE UNDERTONES Live in Stirling and Bournemouth // INDUSTRY - s/t // SUBHUMANS - Demolition War Demos 2xLP // 1186 – Histeria 12” // SICKNESS - Red Flag Files CD/LP //and loads more…
Gaz - Top Ten of 2025 in no particular order.
1, The Human Error – Ghost Army Deception
2, Subhumans – Demolition War
3, Eastfield – Eastfield
4, A Better World – The Dissidents/Dove
5, Voluntary Redundancy – Tape
6, The Instigators – Full Circle/The Sleeper
7, Hotwired – Crimes of the Future
8, Tear Up – Repeat Offenders
9, Dead Pioneers – Post American
10, Conflict – This Much Remains
PETE ZONKED - 2025 Round Up
DIAZ BROTHERS – The Worlds is Yours LP (Serial Bowl)
It’s no secret that there’s a lot of love for Diaz Brothers at Suspect Device. It’s not just their searing melodic tunes, and heartfelt lyrics, but also of friendships that go back decades, and a mutual commitment to the DIY Punk underground. It’s taken a few years for them to release this second album, but it was well worth the wait, comes jammed with memorable songs that I’ve returned to with regularity. A real mood raiser. Make this LP yours if you haven’t already…
MINI-SKIRT – All That We Know LP (Bad Vibrations)
A mate Down Under mentioned Mini-Skirt to me a few years back, but – like a clown - I didn’t pursue his tip, thought the name wasn’t up to much, and therefore their music wouldn’t be either. I managed to pull my head out of my arse and discovered they were right up my street. Even better, I got to see them in Brighton, where they were so-so good. Their music has a tough melancholy Wipers meets the Estranged edge, a healthy nod to Eddy Current Suppression Ring (whose Mikey Young mastered this album) and shot of (Aussie) X and Chosen Few blunt rowdiness. They’ve got sound politics too, acknowledging their countries colonial past, its racist impact, and respecting the true owners of their land. Was waiting with anticipation for this new album. Happy to report. it’s great.
BÉTON ARMÉ – Renaissance LP (La Vida Es Un Mus)
Tony hipped me to this Montreal powerhouse, who have been around for a few years, but I’d failed to register. Having now booted their way into my consciousness I can confirm I am all the better for it. This is top-rate hard-as-nails anthemic Punk, full throttle from start-to-finish, with loud ‘n proud fist punching choruses, where the ‘woooaaahhhs’ don’t let up… a total triumph. Magnifique. Hopefully they make it to the UK in 2026.
UZU – À qui la liberté? لمن الحرية ؟ LP (Symphony of Destruction)
I’ve long been fascinated by Punk’s power to reach disaffected in the far-flung corners of the planet, inspiring fertile minds to create their own raw/charged sounds. So, it’s been interesting in recent years hearing more Arabic voices in Punk, and even though UZU are based in Montreal, they are made up of members from Algeria, Columbia and Quebec, and their songs are sung in Arabic. I’ve been majorly hooked on this album, has Dead Kennedy’s creepiness, Wipers tension, Killing Joke damage, and much more besides. Really Excellent.
UTOPIE – Virage LP (Symphony of Destruction)
So much great music coming out of France these past few years. Utopie include members of Short Days but are on a darker trip. This album starts out with a haunting Stooges-riffing instrumental, that opens into ‘Manège’ with its Del Greening styled ringing guitars. Nice start, and an end-to-end very solid album. With the days drawing in, and temperatures dropping, these songs have been regular ear-fodder on my cold, grey, light starved morning walks to work. It all helps, trust me…
ABRAZOS – My Street LP (Suspect Device)
Fired up at the current state of the world, the three amigos – Tony, Alan, Nathan – have put out this weighty new 15 track album that delivers proper fists in the air, screaming at a wall, raging diatribes at injustice ‘n political corruption. In these fragmented times. Gives you hope that not everyone is getting sucked in to believing that it’s the poor ‘n disenfranchised that are somehow to blame for impacting your personal prosperity ‘n security. A world gone mad, where the warped narrative somehow has it that Tech Bros/Billionaires and their mates as the saviours. A quote I heard a while back keeps ringing in my head… ‘1984 was meant to be a warning, not a playbook’. Mark yourself as Safe from the everyday madness and bullshit propaganda by checking out this album and supporting true DIY Punk.
KALEIDOSCOPE – Cities of Fear LP (La Vida Es Un Mus)
Featuring Straw Man Army alumni, Kaleidoscope are on a far more savage sonic mission. The comparisons to Crucifix ‘n Iconoclast are entirely valid, with a crushing dark undertow throughout, like holding up a shattered mirror to a planet tearing itself apart. I’m picking up some B’last! power too. It’s a dead-cert this album will feature highly in many year-ends, plus the thunderous ‘Blood Minerals’ is up there as one of my favourite songs of the past 12months.
MOVING TARGETS – Red Eyes LP (Boss Tuneage)
I’ll level with you; the past couple of Moving Targets albums didn’t do too much for me. But, this most recent one got my full attention, has grown on me with each listen… a really rocking set of numbers, with Ken Chambers putting in a stellar guitar shift, and his tightly locked in rhythm section going hard in the engine room. Smart lyrics too. Very Good.
¡TOMAR CONTROL! - Frente al Miedo LP (Refuse)
Tony interviewed these Peruvian gals back in issue 63, and when a date at the tiny Pipeline in Brighton was announced during their Summer 2025 tour, I made sure I was there. Our old mate Clifford came down from London too, which was lovely. ¡TOMAR CONTROL! were fantastic, blazed thru their short/punchy tunes, gave off all-round good vibes, and were keen to talk ‘n connect after their set. I brought a tee shirt; they were that good! This is their latest album, and their energised/positive-hardcore is infectious.
1186 – Histeria 12” (Drunken Sailor)
On a similar wavelength to the excellent Chain Cult, these Columbians have schooled themselves in Dark Wave/Post-Punk and given it their own spikey/cranked up twist on these half-dozen tracks. There’s a gloomy jagged edge throughout, and my keen ear detected a neat Pyhät Nuket lead out on ‘Encerrados’. Yeah, they’ve done their homework. Liked that. Top Marks.
Waiting in The Wings > Split System ‘On The Edge’ 7”, Cult Crime S/T LP, Tarrega 91 12”, Puñal ‘Buscando La Muerte’ LP, Bad Breeding ‘Blood Manifest’ EP, Punter ‘Australienation’ LP, Leatherface ‘Peel Sessions’ LP, Subhumans ‘Demolition War Demos 2xLP, Rancœur – ‘Fatalité’ LP… and late entries from Industry, Cosmic Psychos
Live and Dangerous > Subhumans, Stingray, Descendents, Circle Jerks, Bad Breeding, Jodie Faster, Short Days, Stress Positions, MURO, Tomar Control, C.O.F.F.I.N, New Christs, Diaz Brothers, Instigators, Bootlicker, Draumar, Kuroishi, Bomber, FAZE, Chimers… and Saints ’73 - ’78…
Rich Levene
Records:
7 SIOUX – ‘Alligator Patrol’ LP (Musikversorgung Steiner)
AMUSEMENT LP (Brassneck/Shield Recordings)
THE CORDS LP (Skep Wax/Slumberland)
MECHT MENSCH – ‘Anthology’ LP (No Coast)
DIAZ BROTHERS – ‘The World Is Yours’ LP (Serial Bowl/Waterslide etc)
BIG FLAME – ‘Peel Sessions 84-86’ LP (Precious Recordings Of London)
1186 – ‘Histeria’ LP (Drunken Sailor)
MOVING TARGETS ‘Red Eyes’ (Boss Tuneage/Dead Broke)
THE BETHS – ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’ LP (Anti-)
MOTORCYCLE BOY – ‘John Peel Session 14.09.87’ 10” (Precious Recordings Of London)
Gigs:
PEGBOY/AMUSEMENT – Portland (USA) Starlight Theater.
EDWYN COLLINS – Southampton Central Hall.
THE EFFIGIES – London (Camden) World’s End
JONATHAN RICHMAN – Seattle (Ballard) (USA) Tractor Tavern.
ONLOOKER/DIAZ BROTHERS/HOUSE PROUD/UNIFIED ACTION/GRISTLE – Boston Ridlington.
JEANINES/LIGHTHEADED – Oxford Common Ground.
PATTI SMITH – London Palladium.
TULPA – Portsmouth Kola Basement.
THE INSTIGATORS/DIAZ BROTHERS – London (Camden) Underworld.
CREAM SODA/14 ICED BEARS/ACTION PAINTING! – Portsmouth Loft.
Graham Sleighthome
1. VAMPIRE - What Seems Forever can be broken (phobia records)
Reissued for Europe in 2025 in time for their uk tour. Great anarcho peace punk with male / female vocal trade offs. It's all there and the legacy of crass label is still burning strong.
2. IMPLODERS - Targeted for Tetmination (static shock)
Super solid hardcore punk from canaduh. Pissed off, fast and catchy with great off kilter guitar. Tunes like 'nuke this city' and 'cut the shit' are just a couple of standouts.
3. PLASMA - Mua Et Voi Omistaa (sorry state)
Finland has always had killer bands and here's another for the list. hardcore punk rock with a brilliant balance of speed and Punk going at it. Maija has the perfect vocals to blast out over the chaos. Absolutely top drawer. Please come and play the UK!
4. SPLIT SYSTEM - No Cops in Heaven 7" (static shock) split 7" with LES LULLIES (Drunken sailor)
These Aussies delivered two 7s this year and both deserve a mention. Classic punk rock stuff. 'No Cops' is a singalong anthem. The split is equally great and they also put me onto Frances LL who turn in a belter.
5. YEAH MAN IT'S BLOODY HEAVY - VOL.1
Lee Dorian over at Rise Above complied this brutally obscure heavy rock / proto metal comp of '69 to '76 artists. Clemen Pull's 'kamakazi pilot' culled from a 1/4" demo Tape is unreal and the rest of its suitably great also being plucked from acetates and demos. I have played this a lot!
6. KALEIDOSCOPE - Cities of Fear (La Vida especially Un Mus)
Oooff this has had so many plays this year. Straw Man Army member and all(?) Of Tower 7 deliver anarcho punk via late 80s US hardcore. Clearly delivered vocals and passion just push this over the top. 'Blood minerals' and 'white idols' are classic.
7. MURO - live
Colombians Muro pulled in a packed house for a brilliant set of chaotic punk. The energy level was high all through their set and people went nuts. I even had a pogo.
8. The BRIEFS - Live
On paper this wasnt really my bag but turns out a night of ramones / dickies punk was what I needed. Totally daft and irreverent. Better than when i saw them about 20 years ago. Killer set and brilliant to catch them in a DiY space.
9. TRAIDORA - Una Mujer Trans Sin Pais (la vida es un mus)
Think Wretcheds 'finira mai?' EP with a touch of Declino, add in a touch of black / metal, fantastic production and we are getting there. This is an album born out of unresolved rage. It demands your attention. It wants answers. It wants justice. Wow.
10. DELETAR - Live
In a world where swede-beat has been absolutely overdone, French punks Deletar turn in a set of such quality that you just have to lap it up, bang the fist and smile. 'Pugilat' !!
11. London weekend with Clint, Paco, Sean. 3 people i love but rarely see. totally amazing weekend of records, coffee, food, laughs.
Stuart Armstrong
This year has been an eventful year for me, what with turning sixty and still having the passion for Punk Rock. It’s funny how as my parents grew older, their music tastes changed from 60’s pop music to big bands, Frank Sinatra, crooners galore and Shirley Bassey. For me it’s always been Punk and long may it continue into my even later years.
Anyway, here is my top ten for 2025, even though the year hasn’t finished yet with maybe a couple more gigs to go before I see the year out. There is no particular order on my top 10, they are all just as good as each other by their own merits
1. Spending my last few hours in my fifty ninth year with Negative Approach, Circle Jerks and Descendents along with amazing friends, live in Bournemouth.
2. Abrazos - My Street CD. This is what punk is all about, honesty and passion.
3. Armoured Flu Unit, Guitar Gangsters, Menace and The Exploited, live in Southampton. What a great night that was and I was sober!! Another night spent with really good people.
4. Diaz Brothers - The World Is Yours LP.
5. Meeting Simon Wells and interviewing him for Suspect Device. What an amazing bloke he is, many amusing tales and stories and an absolute pleasure to spend an hour and half chatting with.
6. Moving Targets - Red Eyes LP. This has to be one of the best LP’s I’ve bought this year.
7. Seeing Louder Than Wasps play their very first gig in Bournemouth, a new band, totally unique, very refreshing and really good fun.
8. Dissidents/D.O.V.E Split LP. No list would be complete without at least one Grow Your Own Records release.
9. Martha - Standing Where It All Began Double LP.
10. Turning 60 and having a joint party with my Step Son Carl who also had a landmark birthday this year. There was supposed to be a bit of a disco but I’d booked some live music, a band from Cornwall called Dew Barf. Not my usual punk rock shenanigans but they were bloody brilliant, really wonderful people who entertained our families and friends for over three hours. Great musicians and very funny to boot.
There are more things I could add to the list but I’ll just give them an honourable mention - being part of this fabulous scene and having the opportunity to be actively involved in Suspect Device, all the other records I’ve bought this year, with a special mention to S.D Records and the Still Hear, Still Shouting cassette, which made me dig out my old tape deck to play it. The memories that brought back of the days when we all did comp tapes for mates. Seeing C-30,s a couple of times, they never disappoint. Omega Tribes Pop Punk LP, Gutter blood - Good Dogs Will Never Die LP, incredibly powerful LP. The re-issue of Dillinger 4’s This Shite Is Genius, renamed appropriately to This Shite Is Geniuser and has 5 extra tracks that weren’t on the first release. And too many others to mention. Here’s to 2026, bring it on, I think I’m ready for it??!!
Geraldine Lawrence
Top Ten records acquired this year, in no particular order after the first three:
DIAZ BROTHERS The World Is Yours
AMUSEMENT ST
SUNNYBOYS ST CD
MOVING TARGETS Red Eyes
SEVEN SIOUX Alligator Patrol
HEX DISPENSERS Winchester Mystery House
CIRCULATORS Insufficient Fun
BOTHERS I
SPLIT SYSTEM Vol One
NO///SE ST
Special mentions: FALL-OUTS Fine Young Men (major want) and completing my vinyl 12” FALL OUTS collection!
Honourable mentions: MIRACLE WORKERS; ARCTIC FLOWERS (x2); MARKED MEN (x2).
Top ten gigs attended not been to too many gigs this year but those we have were exceptional - positions 3 to 7 are fluid, all equally great in their own way!
PEGBOY/AMUSEMENT/SHITFITS – Portland (USA) Starlight Theater
JONATHAN RICHMAN – Seattle (Ballard) (USA) Tractor Tavern
THE EFFIGIES/OUR LIVES IN CINEMA – London (Camden) World’s End
THE INSTIGATORS/YUR MUM/DIAZ BROTHERS – London (Camden) Underworld
PATTI SMITH - Horses 50th Anniversary tour – London Palladium
ONLOOKER/DIAZ BROTHERS/HOUSE PROUD/UNIFIED ACTION/GRISTLE - Boston The Ridlington
SENSER/KEEPER’S FRIEND/LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER - Southampton 1865
STEVE WYNN/JAMIE PERRETT – Twyford Swiss Cottage
DAN O’FARRELL & THE DIFFERENT ENGINE - Eastleigh Steam Town (or anywhere). Commendation: with or without TDE Southampton’s best singer songwriter - never tire of seeing him/them and always hugely enjoyable.
THE CRYSYAL TEARDROP/ORAL HABIT/FLAVOURS/DEZ DARE/ADAM & ELVIS/SUNDAUGHTER – Reading Purple Turtle
Special mention: DIAZ BROTHERS anywhere - always outstanding!
Alan Marshall
Gigs
A lot of my favourite gigs this year have been the ones where I met up with mates old and new and had a rare old time! Some I have known for 30 plus years and some I only met in the last few. The punk rock network is alive and well folks. Use it while you can!
I have also seen a fair few bands this year that I’ve loved for a long time but never actually had the chance to see. Not to mention a handful of bands playing their first ever gigs, which is always exciting. Here we go!
1- Horse Bastard / Exorbitant Prices Must Diminish / Endless Swarm / Thumbsucker – Legends Edinburgh 31st Jan. An aural pummelling the was more like a tag-team wrestling event than a gig. This one broke my ears and my body and I had to get up for work in the morning. Absolute grind craziness.
2- Descendents / Circle Jerks / Negative Approach – Glasgow O2 12th March. Three bands, all with godlike status, and I hadn’t ever seen any of them, so this was too good to miss. Was looking forward to Circle Jerks most but Descendents absolutely killed it and had so much energy. Great tunes by the bucketful.
3- Gnome – Glasgow Cathouse 3rd April. They might be small in stature but they pack a heavy punch. Riff laden lunacy with more red pointy hats than is sensible in one room.
4- Bootlicker / Seer / Ratcage / Pretty Boys Handsome Girls – Flying Duck Glasgow 28th August. I’ve been waiting to see Seer for a while and their upbeat anarcho anthems did the trick. Get to see them if you can. Ratcage and Bootlicker were both absolutely ferocious.
5- Doune the Rabbit hole festival - Doune 1st to 3rd August. An amazing weekend with pals, and more great bands than I originally thought I was going to get for my money. The Skids, Undertones, Bratakus, Barstool Preachers, Split Dogs, Meryl Streek, The Meffs, Rezillos, The Bay City Rollers (yep, really) to name a few, but you know who took the prize for band of the weekend? Bloody Elvana that’s who! All this and Mr Tony Suspect popped in to say hello too which was bloomin’ lovely!
6- Punk on the Peninsula festival - Dunoon 23rd to 25th May – An absolute hidden gem of a punk fest in beautiful surroundings whilst simultaneously being in a car park. Possibly a few too many Oi! Bands for my comfort zone, but Fatal Blow, Heed Case, Jock Sparrer, XSLF and especially Yur Mum were all amazing.
7- Half Man Half Biscuit – Glasgow O2 19th Sept. Always a treat and always fantastic. As many sardonic, witty songs about nonsense as you can shake an ovenglove at. Any frontman whose opening line is ‘Have you all had your flu jabs’ knows the score.
8- The Oppressed / Thrown Away – Audio Glasgow 5th July. Long time since I saw the Oppressed and they were amazing. They are one of those bands that wheel out tune after tune from a magnificent back catalogue that you had partly forgotten about. Thrown away were great too, representing the Stirling Yoof!
9- Disaffect / Bratakus / Votiv / Lifeless Cowboy – Audio Lounge Glasgow 18th April. A small but perfectly formed raucous occasion. Most of clan Quinn were there in one band or another. Lots of lovely folks spanning the generations all in a lovely place.
10- Bullitz 23 – Wild at Heart Berlin 10th May. I couldn’t miss this one off the list! Great to go on a wee holiday with Nath, Michy-hell and Soozin, and lovely to meet up with Andy and Calum from Bullitz 23 for the first time in a long time. Beer was quaffed and vegan kebabs consumed in quick succession.
Records
As usual, more records have passed me by than I actually ensnared this year. Some of the ones on my list actually came out over the last few years but they are new to me so they’re going in! Also as usual, most of them are virtually unlistenable noise to the untrained ear (but marvellous to thems who know), or are otherwise laced with quirky weirdness. I’m too old to start liking anything with melody now, so sue me!
There were a whole bunch of others which nearly made the list. There are some great bands out there at the moment! Check out Heed Case, Skloss and Split Dogs for 3 examples off the top of my noggin.
1- Yur Mum – Duality - Tropical Fuzz Records – I appear to be late to the party with this band and this is their second LP, but they were head and shoulders the best band I saw at Punk on the Peninsula in Dunoon this year, and possibly the record of the entire year (hence no. 1 I guess?). Quirky and raging in equal measure. A bit like Riot Grrl, KUKL, the punky end of L7 but with XTC mixed in, if that’s a thing? Well worth a listen.
2- Dead Pioneers – Post American – Hassle Records – How to follow the absolute banger of a self-titled LP from last year? Another absolute punch in the gob of a LP this year. Yay!! It might even be slightly better although I had better keep playing them both til I work it out. Gutted I missed them live. Come to Scotland you guys!
3- Half Man Half Biscuit – All Asimov and No Fresh Air – RM Qualtrough Records – The Boys who shook the Wirral continue to spin the same old tunes into glittering gold. As usual this is full of sardonic bitterness and laugh out loud observations no one else took the time to notice. From Rawlplugs of Yesteryear to Horror Clowns are Dickheads - genius of the highest order.
4- Haggus – Destination Extinction – Tank Crimes Records – Revolting goregrind / mincecore with vocals like Satan puking into a woodchipper. Beneath the ridiculous insanity Haggus succinctly point out just where and how the human race is screwing it all up perfectly.
5- Endless Swarm – The Body Hammer – To Live A Lie / Jungle Noise / Coxinha Records – Superb 5th (?) LP from Edinburgh’s finest Power Violence exponents. They show no signs of slowing up yet with 20 hunks of faultless blast beat. One of my faves!
6- Tristwch Y Fenywood – S/T – Night School Records – Something a tad different, but which resonated with me straight away. Folk Horror with the emphasis on Folk. A beguiling mix of feminist chants, drones and crashing electronic drums which is both unsettling and beautiful throughout.
7- Horsebastard – S/T – Jungle Noise Records – And back to the grind! Horse bastard are a magnificent noise, so silly but so tight they are almost hypnotic to listen to. With song titles like Peak to Stupification and Not Once, Not Twice but Thronce, what’s not to like? Horsebastard!!
8- Human Leather – Here Comes The Mind, There Goes The Body – Wrong Speed Records – Heavy as flip bass and drum battering from Brighton’s most raucous duo. Loads of great grungy and jerky riffs, and attitude by the shovel full.
9- Thumbsucker – Infinite Regret – Circus of the Macabre, Fies in Geschicht, Repulsive Media, Thumbsucker Records – Brutal power violence which batters you into submission and then fucks off into the shadows. An amazing release but over too quickly.
10- Gimic – We are Making a new World – Crew Cuts Records – As gnarly as it is poppy. The chop and change of this 7” is so catchy I just keep going back to it. Some seriously talented musicianship too. I have not heard anything else like it, which instantly propels it into the top 10.
Punky Steve
1 . PLASMA - MUA ET VOI AMISTAA - Album of the year for me from Moominland and boy would i love to see this lot live . Righteous Finnish anger
2. PUNTER - AUSTRALIENATION - This was slow burner for me initially but well and truly won me over - just love the way way you can tell this lot are from Australia
3. BOMBARDEMENT - DANS LA FOURNAISE - Great follow up to previous LP , lucky to have seen them live too- more venom and anger from France
4. TRAIDORA - UNA MUJER TRANS SIN PAIS - Venezuelan migrant trans woman living in London now - - with likeminded musicians belting out a ripsnorter - that South American feel to it I love so much
5. ESKOLOPENDRA - CRIMINAL - New to me and first band for me from the Canary islands (named after an extinct species of dog not the bird) - that melodic but angry sound the Spanish have nailed down
6. KAMIKAZZE - RESURRECCION DEMO -Anything associated with Colombia's finest - Muro - and my ears prick up and this lot don't let you down
7. KALEIDOSCOPE - CITIES OF FEAR - Sort of mix of NYC hardcore, anarcho sound and other bits thrown all thrown together in a big melting pot of punk rock anger - works for me!
8. TARREGA 91 - CKAOS TOTAL - From Barcelona and love the fact they sing in Catalan, yet another La Vida Es Un Mus (blame Paco) - have I mentioned angry before ? Well this lot certainly are
9. SEX GERMS - WHIPLASH - Saw this lot at Unrest this year and know they impressed a lot of people , immediately bought this great slab of vinyl - brilliantly unpredictable sound
10. AMERETAT - ST - another Paco offering this time from the Iranian diaspora, a great pot pourri of sounds, utilising traditional folk instruments and various languages - including Avestan, Lori, Kurdish, Persian and English - which is bound to grab my attention
Marv Gadgie’s Top Ten of 2025
1) Negative Gears live at The Angel, Nottingham
What a wazzle weekend this was. Start of February Half Term and Luke Mayhem is heading to the fair city of Notting-on-the-Ham for a gig. There’s an Australian band on he reckons are worth a look and he’s driving. Do I fancy it? Do I fancy it! Of course, I ruddy do. Whilst parking this woman behind us moved back to let us squeeze in and bumped the car behind, who’s driver was at the pay machine. Her three kids went crackers screaming and crying and asking if they were gonna die ‘cause they’ve been in a car crash despite the fact they were in a stationary vehicle and the moving car hit them at about half a mile an hour. We just went to the pub … Negative Gears were most marvellous. I even bought a record. The next day was spent at the Punk 4 The Homeless all day carry on at The Railway which ended somewhat messily but that is another tale for another day …
2) Armoured Flu Unit “Carnyx” LP and Armoured Flu Unit live at The Victoria Inn, Derby with Poundaflesh
Nath sent me a digital copy of the new LP for review prior to its release and it received some heavy rotation on my erm, itunes and car stereo before I could get my hands on the proper version on record. Frantic Anarcho Punk that ups the pace from previous outings in to Conflict territory, I reviewed it as “harder than Gripper Stebson” which says all you need to know really doesn’t it? Catching the ‘Unit live at Derby was a Spring time bonus treat ‘n all. The Derby Punx, led by Shaun, of the reborn Poundaflesh, have been putting on some fabulous Sunday matinee gigs recently – Anti System, Conflict, Discharge and of course, the mighty Poundaflesh – all of which have been well worth the just shy of two hours drive over there and, get this, I can be back for Match of the Day 2 afterwards. Skill as.
3) Gristle “Maximum Power” CD and Gristle, Wolfbeast Destroyer, Zeddon etc live at The Old Bus Depot, Nottingham
Gristle! A new Hardcore band from Boston! They are of course class. Lee from Urko, Skel, from Lifegrind, Tommy Wolfbeast and Gez from Out From The Count … their IQHC pedigree is assured, so, as you’d expect, they make a right ruddy rumpus. Unsubtle and rather unpleasant, their five track CD EP was a brutal blast of Negative Approach, SSD, Poison Idea and erm, Status Quo. Playing all over the East Midlands they’ve made a good few friends and this one in Nottingham, knocked together by Boston ex-pat Jay along with fellow Fenlanders, the D-Beat legends that are Wolfbeast Destroyer, well, let’s just say Boston was out in force for this bugger. Zero Again, Tormented Imp, Japanese loons Zeddon … it was a day of brutality and nowt else. What else would you want?
4) Manchester Punk Festival
As always, the four days away in Mancunia is an annual highlight. Blinding sets from Onlooker, Diaz Brothers, Bratakus, Hard Skin, The Restarts, Nexo, Prey, Skint Knees, Pussy Liquor, Grail Guard, Sewer Cats, Dakka Skanks, A Great Notion … it was, as always, a fantastic weekend. It was also tinged with sadness this time in hindsight though. The evening of the warm up gig that I spent with Boston Punk legend Darrel Skinner, trying our best not to get absolutely belted and be hungover tomorrow, thus ruining the first full day proper (I managed it, he didn’t) was to be the last time I saw my old mate. Mr Skinner, shockingly, passed away not long after. RIP mate. I shall raise a glass to you at the next one.
5) Diaz Brothers “The World Is Yours” LP
Honestly, was there anyone out there who hasn’t been relentlessly spinning this magnificent second long player from the band that are one of the best doing the rounds in the UK today? Live sets at MPF and Middlesbrough, not to mention a first visit by the band to Boston of all places … I never tire of listening to this lot and this LP is a classic.
6) Chapelfest, Middlesbrough and the Objections “Optimistic Sizing” LP
Talking of Diaz Brothers … their headline set here was, of course, fabulous, but it was a band I discovered earlier on the bill at the all day booze and bands fest in the shadow of Newport Bridge that captured my imagination. Objections, a three piece from Leeds, were/are a band I had never heard, nor heard of before their fantastic set at Chapelfest but that was rectified immediately with the purchase of the LP on lovely purple plum type colour vinyl. A very hard, drilling bass led sound, with a sparse Post Punk feel, topped off with vocals that waft around like some intoxicating 90s Indie band on 4AD or something. I don’t bloody know but it’s marvellous.
7) Cell Rot and Xiu live at Mist Rolling Inn, Nottingham
The Mist Rolling Inn (see what they did there?) is a fine new venue in Nottingham, that has become a regular haunt of late for those of us who enjoy tiny, dark cellars and unlistenable, brutal music. Onlooker were blazing there as were Gristle, but in the summer months these two Californian noise units blew everybody’s heads clean off.
8) Cheerbleederz (Prove Me Wrong) EP
Oh lordy, I drove everyone in Gadgie Towers crackers with the insanely catchy lead song off this third EP by the fabulous trio that is Cheerbleederz. One of my discoveries at MPF a few years ago, I’ve kept up to date with their releases since, including a fine LP that mixes sugar sweet Indie with a spiky Punk attitude. Will see ‘em again at MPF next year I imagine and be humming that bloody song all week. Again.
9) Senser “Sonic Dissidence” LP
Ruddy ‘eck. Who’d have thought that Senser would be back with such a cracking LP in 2025? After discovering they were still doing the rounds a few years back, after their riotous Dogfest set, I’ve kept close tabs on the band that defined a certain period of the 90s for me with the classic “Stacked Up” LP and this one, was another smashing addition to their oeuvre. Like the 90s never went away.
10) Yootha Presents: Gristle, Unified Action, House Proud, Diaz Brothers, Onlooker live at The Ridlington, Boston.
Whose idea was it to get four of the best bands that the North East has to offer and invite them all to come and play Boston (Not Boston) on the same night in November? It was Estelle’s but I have to take some of the blame too. Probably the best gig Boston has seen since … well, longer than I care to remember. Boston is back!
Iain Ratcliffe
1. Sprints - All That Is Over
A newish raw Irish band from Dublin with a phenomenal and energetic female singer. - AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS
2. Gutterblood - Good Dogs Will Never Die
Recommended by Tony Suspect, a very interesting fresh Scottish take on 90s noise - SLINT
3. Paradise Lost - Ascension
The latest LP by the Halifax goth rockers. A very mixed sounding release, with every song styled sonically differently, just like their past recording catalogue. - TYPE O NEGATIVE
4. Death Valley High - UDKWUA
San Francisco homies, doom pop with a goth rock edge. - NIN
5. Dead Pioneers - Po$t American
At this point, no real introduction needed. Another LP of bangers, but a little less polished than their debut -
6. McLusky - The World Is Still Here and So Are We…
New release by the Welsh post-hardcore rockers - FUTURE OF THE LEFT
7. Ministry - The Squrrely Years Revisited
An odd idea of Al’s to remake, spice up and modernize his (in his own opinion) worst material. A bit of a miss on the whole but definitely worth hearing if you are a fan - MINISTRY
8. Swans - Birthing
More on the atmospheric side, the legendary experimental rock band led by Michael Gira are still creating great noises after nearly 45 years. - EINSTüRZENDE NUEBAUTEN
9. The Murder Capital - Blindness
I liked them more when I heard their US tour (from Ireland) had been cancelled due to their insistence to not back down in their support of Palestine. - JOY DIVISION
10. Spiritual Cramp - RUDE
Newish San Francisco band with the brash bravado of the FRATELLIS and the angry arrogance not seen since - CRIME
Mike Head.
1. John McKay Reactor at 229 club ,
dream come true to hear some Banshees classics performed so well & his solo stuff.
2. The Money and the Honey book by Iain McMillan, gritty excellent novel.
3. Ex- Imposter Syndrome album , classy punk / post punk tunes .
4. Bar stool preachers Live , always fun.
5. Getting John McKay interview for Tangled Lines Zine.
6. Getting my surgery done at last & 6 weeks off to recover , bless the NHS
7. Chester trip with my wife much needed little break , zoo is the best I've visited , snow Leopards rule .
8. Afternoon beers with friends putting world to rights and having a laugh.
9. The fun parts of Watching Bromley fc " know you won't believe us but we're staying in League 2 ".
10. Getting my 2nd book out 21 Again and the nice reaction from people who matter to me .
Crispin Mumbles
Top Ten Best things 2025.
1) Divesting myself of an utter nutter 1st January
2)Finally saw the Testies!
3) Seeing my little girl a couple of times.
4) Mildly misbehaving in Spain.
5) Descendents, Circle Jerks, Negative Approach gig.
6) Seeing AFU performing some of their new stuff.
6) C30s gig/Bournemouth day out with many lovely folk present 74th June
8) 0-0 Saints v Mancy Shitty and then them complaining about how we played.
9) Saints being out of the Saudi Sportswashing Blood Money American Investment Portfolio Money Money Money Morally Bankrupt League.
10) Watching us not lose to Portsmouth in the first proper derby for yonks…somehow. Terrible bloody game.
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