Down By Law are back with their brand new studio full length album. I remember when I first heard of these guys as a teenage kid growing up in the nineties. I read the review of their record and their interview in one Italian fanzine which was done by a guy from Croatia who lived in Rome back then, zine was called Zips N Chains. Dave Smalley is a living legend of hardcore punk scene with all his bands he made music with. On this record we get 13 songs like we are used to from DBL, being melodic, heartfelt punk rock done from the hardcore hearts of this punk veterans. Hard to believe, but Dave´s voice is even better now than ever. I love the songs, reminding me of the bands I have listened to a lot when I was younger, and still do. Songs like Lonely Town, Steal The Night and Heroes And Zeroes are personal favorites of mine, but the record as a whole is one feelgood punk record that brings back smile on your face in these still no gigs and festivals uncertain times for our scene. Much respect to Dave and rest of the guys, another memorable fantastic record.
Nutshell are from Leuven, Belgium and this is their new e.p. These five entities grew up, as they say, on different forms of punk rock and they amalgamated all their influences in their music, thus making Nutshell what it is. What do we have here? We have five songs of mighty punk rock bordering with garage punk influences in the songwriting and the music itself is very energetic, yet there is some subtle melody underneath it all, like in one of my personal favorites Florida Man with that wicked guitar hooks of melody. Vocals are shouted and a bit nervous at times, but they are just like they are supposed to be for this kind of punk. Guitars are also very crispy, noisy and hit you right in the eye along with thunderous drumming and pumping bass. Lyrics are a bit humorous, a bit personal and a bit political if you read between the lines. I like this one. If you are a fan of this kind of punk rock, go get this one.
Homemade Ski Mask are punk hardcore duo from Lancaster, Pa and this is their brand new e.p. out with Big Eleanor Records.
This record contains 5 songs of pretty noise influenced a bit nervous sounding hardcore punk with some really fast parts with screaming vocals in one of my personal favorites Back on my Bullshit, but also some rock influenced song structures like Shooter which has almost garage punk sounding attitude in guitar work, drumming and vocals, backed with some slow and doomy parts. Sperry Stomp and Boogey Woogey continue in wild punk raw garage direction with destructive blitz guitars, shouting vox and pumping bass, topped with great drum beat. Boogey Woogey has some weird noise melodic part in the end of the song which I liked very much. Backwoods is also a bit weird punk song, but I love diversity of the scene which enriches us in our cause worldwide.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 