Killing Innocence is a band from USA I first heard with this release, never listened to them before. This record contains 10 songs. It is interesting that I found this one when I researched horror punk but this is so much more. First, this is DIY recording, raw and unbridled without studio magic and it brings me to nostalgic days when we released tapes with rehearsal demos on it. Second, this is not horror punk. There are some horror punk and death rock influences in songs like ‘Evil Eddie’ or ‘Necrophiliac’ but there is also pure raw punk, with many Oi and street punk stuff in the song structures, but also Ramones are noticable in ‘The Wannabe Song’. This trio plays like punk is, anything goes, there are some mistakes or sloppy played parts, at least I heard it that way, but this is punk and that is why we love it isn’t it? If I must compare this band to some other bands, it would be Cancerslug, to which they reminded me in couple of songs a lot too.
No Option are US hardcore band and this is their new release containing four songs . What to expect here? This is hardcore like I used to listen when I was growing up to. Street smart influences and atmosphere and something we used to call new school back in the nineties, being metallic hardcore with lots of changes in tempo, breakdowns but also straightforward punk influenced song parts. Vocals are angry and screaming with occasional excursion into clean singing waters. Of all these four songs somehow my favorites are ‘302’ and the title song. This is hardcore that you feel energy when you are listening to, so that means good hardcore little record. Hope for more music by this band in the near future.
Newport Ave are from West Australia and I still think that I have much to explore about their underground punk scene which delivers so many great punk and hardcore releases all the time. Anyway, this little EP contains five songs, one being kind of instrumental intro called ‘Meet Me After Tryouts, We Need To Talk’. Then the record continues with one of my personal favorites pop punk/melodic punk anthem ‘Travel Pants’ with emotional vocals, mid tempo melodies and lyrics about being who you are not hiding behind mask and costume. ‘Mutiny Scrutiny’ is a surf punk influenced noisy little miniature with haiku lyrics but great melody at the end of the song about losing mind hehe. Other one of my personal favorites is ‘Medusa Seducer’, song about hypocrisy and fake love and affection with great guitar melodies and anthemic feel, true pop punk hymn. The production is great, I love harsher sound of guitars and vocals are cool for this kind of punk rock. ‘Cofee Cart Broken Heart’ speaks about separation and longing and going on with your life and this is a great little EP and I love every single minute of it.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 