Melonball are melodic hardcore punk band from Germany and this is their debut full length album. This album contains ten songs of excellent energetic melodic punk with some fast hardcore punk influences. Songs are full of great main melodies, anthemic sing along choruses and they remind me in some ways of Not On Tour especially faster songs like ‘Sinking’, main singer has a great voice, similar to Sima Brami of above mentioned band. Backing vocal harmonies are great too, just so sweet and Melonball makes you pump your fist in the air with energy, but also besides hardcore energy feeling sweetness and joy because of listening to such great band and glad you found another jewel of the underground. Almost all of the songs on this record are fast, some having more mid tempo punk rock vibe here and there, but returning to fast skate punk after some time. Lyrics are personal but you can also find criticism of modern society and trying to survive this fast and furious modern world, friendship, love, coping with rage among main lyrical themes of this album. My personal favorites are ‘Rage’, ‘We All Go Down’, ‘Lost’ and ‘Your Love’, damn that’s nearly half of this superb album. If you like fast melodic punk hardcore check out Melonball.
Jughead’s Revenge were a band as I was a hardcore kid discovering more and more bands that I love in the scene and I must admit that since 90-ies I didn’t follow them really much. As I understand, they are active again and here is the new EP containing 5 songs. They were on BYO Records and Nitro Records back in the day and I am glad that they keep the flame burning again. This new one contains songs in melodic punk vein, but what I love about Jughead’s Revenge is that they kept the rawer edge of punk rock although they play skate punk and melodies come with raw guitar riffs, thundering bass and almost touchable punk rock energy blowing from your speakers into your old school punk rock heart! ‘Isolation Time’ is a fast tempo punk song reminding me a bit of Face To Face but not so melodic as mentioned band. ‘Bridges’ is my one of my favorites on this record with such beautiful main guitar melody and great interplay between main vocals, which are rougher and harmony backing vocal melodies. I totally dig this song and listened to it over and over again! ‘My Side’ is old school hardcore song miniature in the vein of Good Riddance and Sick Of It All if I must compare it to some other bands. ‘Eighties’ are more rock and roll influenced storms of riffs and pulsing drumming with some mid tempo rock sing along parts thrown in for good measure. This song makes me feeling kind of nervous while listening to and wanting to break something in the vicinity. ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ is another favorite of mine. Fast hardcore punk track with great uplifting melody and atmosphere that makes you want to pump your fist in the air! Great EP by great band!
Calgary, Alberta skate punkers Upside Down Man have signed to High End Denim Records and unleashed the first single off their upcoming full length. ‘Looking Up’ will drop on June 22 and the first track to be unveiled is ‘Diablo.’
‘Diablo’ offers a heroic dose of catchy, melodic punk smothered in UDM’s signature thrashy sauce. This is only a taste of the badassery you can expect from the remaining 9 songs. Working with Casey Lewis (Belvedere) at Echo Base Studios in Calgary, the band offers a polished yet edgy release that will have you yearning to see it live!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 