Have No Heroes were already featured on the pages of this webzine when we reviewed one of their records a while ago. This is a four piece melodic hardcore punk band from Riga, Latvia. We can almost safely call them Latvian Pennywise because that is the band of which their music reminds me the most. Not that they copied it, but with hardcore punk energy which bursts from the songs, speed, great vocal melodies and backing vocal harmonies and above all, great songwriting. This one contains an intro plus twelve songs of uplifting spirit, melodic skate punk hardcore and I enjoyed every single minute of it. These guys are also great musicians, there are couple of superb guitar solos and hooks on this beauty like in awesome ‘No Regrets’. Lyrics are smartly written and they are personal but also deal with scene, genre, there are also political themes if you read between the lines and these songs somehow give hope for better tomorrow. When I listen to this one, it is no holds barred, no philosophy, nineties style influenced melodic hardcore punk with Pennywise, Good Riddance and No Use For A Name immediately falling on my mind. It is so hard to tell some songs as highlights because album as a whole is fantastic, but I will try: ‘No Regrets’, ‘Funeral Of The Genre’, ‘Better Way’, ‘Divide And Conquer’, ‘Final Destination’, damn that is already almost half of the album. One of the best releases in this genre to come out this year.
Tag Archives: punkrock
California postpunk outfit OCTAVIAN WINTERS releases ‘Undertow’!
Today is release day for ‘Undertow’ by San Francisco post-punk outfit OCTAVIAN WINTERS, a dark propulsive single reflecting separation from the world and the darkness that comes out of it – an ominous current capable of pulling someone away from hope. Born into the ghostly isolation of San Francisco in 2022, Octavian Winters draws from darkwave and post-punk traditions, weaving their visceral and ethereal sound into a texture all its own – of stories once told but half-remembered.
Following their debut single ‘Ondine’, ‘Undertow’ previews their debut EP ‘The Line of Curve’, recorded by MARK PISTEL (Meat Beat Manifesto, Consolidated) with production, mixing and mastering by WILLIAM FAITH (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith and the Muse, Christian Death, The March Violets), whose credits include Jarboe, Clan of Xymox, Bootblacks and Autumn.
‘Undertow’ https://youtu.be/hvpdYUexGz4
‘Undertow’ lyrics teaser https://youtu.be/eTcY4eF6GEI
Bandcamp https://octavianwinters.bandcamp.com/track/undertow-4
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/02qtsLherxvwSKS4xjzbHI
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/octavian-winters/1677412657
‘Ondine’ https://youtu.be/UNsT5d-hidM
Bandcamp https://octavianwinters.bandcamp.com/track/ondine
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/2DW5CjLU0I2RF7mUTXrBbc
(review) Dan Cribb & The Isolated – ‘I’ll Follow You Anywhere(PEE Records)
Dan Cribb & The Isolated started as a solo project for WA singer-songwriter Dan Cribb, former vocalist and bassist of The Decline. But, along the way it became so much more and something really beautiful. Dan was joined by Scott Connor (guitar/vocals) and Brennan Pagels (drums),. This new opus contains eleven songs which continue with way they started. That means beautiful heartfelt emotional punk rock. There is lots of melody in this one, especially in vocal lines which are so sweet and some of the songs, like for example chorus of ‘The Best of Whatever’ brought goosebumps upon my skin while listening to the album. I must admit that I enjoyed listening this album as one whole, these songs stirred up something in me which brought smile to my face and that is definitely not often the case. Songs are mainly in mid tempo punk rock, so don’t expect fast hardcore melodic skate punk frenzy with this album, but there are lots of tempo changes, pop punk sensibilities and for all that is worth, great songwriting to top it all. Some of my other personal favorites on this one are: ‘Addicted For Life’, ‘Fade Away’, ‘Full Circle’. This one is a keeper!


