I must admit that I have first heard of Hard Spread through this album. Hard Spread are hailing from Georgia, USA and this album contains 14 songs. As I listen to this one, sometimes reminds me of Cancerslug in couple of songs. Hard Spread play a mixture of hardcore, melodic punk, skate punk and also horror punk influenced music, sounding melodic, yet pretty raw especially in some guitar work and also great rough and melodic vocals. Lyrics deal with humor, irony, sex, std(yeah you read it right), computer games and many more merry themes. Music is sometimes fast and straightforward hardcore punk but also there are pure street punk rock songs like excellent ’20 on 1′ and horror punk on one of my favorites ‘Flesh Eater’ also one of the highlights for me ‘Saturday Night’. If I must compare this band to someone it would be above mentioned Cancerslug and Guttermouth. So, if you are into punk rock with no holds barred on fun, go listen this one.
Pass the Flask are punk rock band from Midwest and this is their second full length album. The band says that they spent two years in writing and creating these 16 songs presented on this record, we all know which years that were. Pandemics, lockdowns, losses of friends and brutal Midwest winters were reason that this album is so fantastically dark and anguished. I love and enjoy every single minute of this one because this one totally sits on my heart because of some feelings and situations that I am in, so I can totally get myself into this album. This is not your fast and furious skate punk, this is punk rock in purest sense of the word, with rough vocals that somehow evoke all that stuff being sung about. Guitar work creates melancholy and sadness at the same time bringing goosebumps to my skin. Songs like ‘Smoke Stained Walls’ or ‘Fernetti Vedder’ are sure to become your favorites. But, songs ‘Cigarettes and Whiskey’, ‘See You Sometime’ or ‘There is Hope’ will break even the hardest hardcore heart and make you love your friends more, your family and try to cherish what you got, because life is so fragile and can be gone in a second.
The Scuba Kids are from Los Angeles and they have been in the scene long, but I must admit that this is their first release I have listened. This one contains five songs of melodic punk rock mixed with ska and brass music, so the band which comes somehow to mind while listening to The Scuba Kids is Less Than Jake, although The Scuba Kids retain more of a rawer punk energy through all reggae and ska parts. Do not get me wrong this is still melodic punk rock with great vocal lines and melodies, but singer has some more shouting and screaming parts and there is as I can hear synth in ‘I Think It’s Me’ song that somehow sounds dreamy in that reggae ska parts. Lyrics are personal and as you might have imagined from the record title deal with all the bullshit that befell us in last two years due to well known pandemic circumstances. My personal favorites on this one are: ‘UR Dead’ and ‘Vaxenema’. This release is name your price on Bandcamp, so show some love to the band, I am sure they will appreciate it much.
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