Western Settings from San Diego are back with their second full length album out with A-F Records. I must admit that this band somehow always eluded me and I only listened to them more carefully now when this record came out. The new record contains 11 songs of mid tempo emotional melodic punkrock in the vein of Off With Their Heads or Menzingers, with some indie touches like for example in Better, but what is surely to win you over are straightforward punkrock anthems like the title song or Duckets Is Tight enough to make your day better and bring that smile back on your face. This is smart punkrock, played well, with heart, soul and balls and if you are a fan of such side of punk, be my guest, grab this one, you will not be disappointed.
Remember Seattle˙s Sicko? These guys played an important role in the 90-ies pop punk when pop punk was more punk and less pop, contrary to nowadays. Well, Red Scare Industries released nice compilation of their biggest hits from all era of the band. 19 songs of furious tempo pop punk/melodic punkrock are here for your listening pleasure. I must admit that I never listened to Sicko close when I was a kid in the 90ies but now this records suits me as well as thousands other fans to rediscover this band and their opus again. The hits like Where I Live, Believe, Kathy`s Dance and all the other are sure to win over and re-ignite your old punkrock heart like it is twenty something years ago hehe. Great record!
The Toy Dolls are celebrating their 40th birthday. The UK longstanding trio are taking a massive tour to celebrate the birthday, but also to promote their brand new record. Yes, Episode XIII contains intro plus 14 songs of funny punk mayhem like we got used to from these legends throughout the years. I saw them live for the first time two years ago and remained jaw dropped by their fantastic show and this songs just prove how tight and musically talented this band is. The songs are melodic, energetic and anthemic just made for humming and singing the whole day long. Olga sounds better than ever, Tommy on bass too while Duncan Redmonds is definitely one of the best drummers in the punk scene right now. Some of the songs that I somehow liked the most on this record are Knickers Off In Mykonos, Christine`s Clothes and Until Next Time. This record is in the rank of their best releases in the four decade existence in the scene. Happy birthday Toy Dolls and here is to at least fourty more!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 