Yeeooww this is some blistering hardcore coming outta this Montreal foursome. I don’t regularly listen to this type of stuff, just because it reminds me of total macho tough guy posing. But Conor, the vocalist, sounds more like someone that’s fallen down a deep well late at night in the middle of a densely wooded area and just realized there is someone (or something) already down there with him. Another thing I dislike about hardcore is how political issues get shoved down your throat until you gag and throw the disc across the room. Not here though, apparently the bands motto is “believe in nothing”. This I can handle, getting preached to, no thanks! ~ J Castro
This Baltimore, MD band tear it up hard with some seriously savage rock n’ roll guitar hooks, punishing drum poundings and some goblin style, tonsil ripping vocals. This record immediately erects a tall wall of lo-fi noise that only lets ferocity through. Four songs full of teenage sex, hate and deception, four songs that could only come from someone young, pissed off, and with that “ready to take on the galaxy” type enthusiasm. Exciting, captivating, infuriated and guaranteed to piss off your parental units. ~ J Castro
For any of you that are unfamiliar with Punkhouse Records, let me have the pleasure of telling you a bit about them. This label is reissuing punk rock from South Wales from the late 70’s early 80’s and sparing no expense in doing so! Beautiful packaging is their signature on all their releases. It’s strictly a labor of love for these guys and you gotta admire that! This particular band belts out some catchy sing a long street punk similar to Sham 69 or Menace that teeters on Oi!/street punk/77 style. 250 copies on some sturdy red vinyl and a beautiful picture sleeve.
~ J Castro
More labors of love from our friends over in Swansea, South Wales commemorating their scene out there in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Handmade, silkscreened covers with a heavy gage protective plastic sleeve house this great record. Both bands played a great, ultra melodic poppy mod/punk rock that seems heavily Jam and Buzzcocks influenced. It’s actually the same band that changed their name from The Urge to the Dodos in late 1979. 300 copies are all that exists on this planet so get yours quick before all you have left is sorrow and regret. ~ J Castro
The Tunnelrunners played around the Swansea punk scene from 1978 to 1982. This band has more in common with The Lurkers and The Boys, playing loud abrasive pop songs with “heart on your sleeve” and ”you only live once” type of youthful attitude, another winner from the punk rock historians at Punkhouse Records. From what I read their favorite band was The Ramones and they used to cover “Do You Wanna Dance”, more in line with the Ramones version than The Beach Boys I’m sure. That should give you more of an idea of what The Tunnelrunners sound was like, really good stuff! ~ J Castro
Spastic and yet somehow catchy and melodic, coming at us from the great white north, it’s Vancouver’s own the B-Lines! This is their debut LP that came out back in 2011, now being reissued on cassette by Shake! Fun, loud, and highly pogo-able music that falls somewhere between F.Y.P. and The Briefs. The band lists Red Kross, Angry Samoans, and The Descendents as main influences. Yeah, I can easily see that too. Great record, meant to be played loud, and meant to irritate as many people in close proximity as possible. ~ J Castro
The Mants – S/T Singles Comp Cassette (Shake!)
Half man, half ant, and all action: it’s The Mants! And you puny humans can’t take the rock n’ roll power this horde holds. Highly influenced by 1960’s loud garage rock n’ roll like The Sonics and lots and lots of B-rate horror, the Mants are fun, mean, and maniacal. This here record is a singles collection by the long running Victoria B.C. band. High volume, high energy, and highly infectious music, all coming from three guys wearing giant ant masks! What more can any feeble earthling ask for! ~ J Castro
Absolutely fantastic power pop (emphasis on the pop) from the late 1970’s/early 1980’s from this Topeka, Kansas band. This album collects the bands only EP along with some promo stuff the band released back in the day. Sound quality is top notch too thanks to the fine folks at Cheap Rewards. The Tunes delivered some brilliantly fun and snappy rock n’ roll that still holds up. It’s a shame they never got their due chance. Think The Nerves with a tad Rezillos keyboards and cartoon-y energy. ~ J Castro
Two 1960’s wild and wooly dance floor stompers that will get you moving and shaking all around the room. The B-side “Amok Time” which shares the name of the second season premier (September 16, 1967), episode 30 of Star Trek when Spock and Kirk are forced to battle to the death. Jim Carrey was also inspired by this episode during the filming of the 1996 movie Cable Guy where he and co-star Mathew Broderick battle at Medieval Times using Lirpas, a traditional Vulcan weapon. I say this because I recently watched that movie again and found it every bit as funny as I did back in 1996. I am confident that in 18 years I will still think this is as great a record as when I first heard it. ~ J Castro
A trio of tough and scruffy lads drunkenly and angrily stumbling their way around Amsterdam from space to space peddling killer songs of 1960’s inspired spy/surf guitar riffs, raspy grumbled vocals and a drummer that holds on for dear life trying to keep it all from blowing out all over the walls. This is the band’s fifth release to date following a 2010 LP and three previous EPs, and I vow, right here and now, to get my hands on the rest of this bands records. Wild, mean, arrogant, and hook filled rock n’ roll. Supposedly they’re known as “the wildest live band in Europe.” I can certainly believe that! ~ J Castro
Never really know what you’re gonna get with Resurrection Records, which is just another reason why we love them here at the Audio Ammunition castle stronghold. Wolf Feet are kind of the same way. The opener is a song called “Dead Hand” and it’s a pretty dark melodic ditty with some new wave flavor. The album goes on to incorporate some punk-y garage, “Bowie Birthday” and psychedelic atmospherics “We Are.” Well, done album and highly entertaining. Even though Wolf Feet incorporate a number of styles they are all blended well and flow together seamlessly. ~ J Castro
Four catchy blasts of killer melodic punk from Prometheus Wolf and his merry gang crawling out of the Land of Port. The influences are hard to pin point exactly. It’s got elements of ‘77 Punk, new wave energy and Post Punk angst. The record also has a bit of an echo/hollowness to it, which gives it a dark psych element as well. With all, that BS said, this is a great record. It ends with a cover of Gun Club’s “Sex Beat.” Can’t think of a better way to cap of this stellar slab of wax than that! Go consume Lunch! ~ J Castro
TRMRS deliver some sludgy yet rollicking psych rock n’ roll on their half of the disc with a song called “Goodtime Blues.” The song starts out slow and shadowy and slowly revs up to a full fledge barnburner. Now comes Seattle, WA’s Night Beats with a song called “Messiah”. This one starts out in the muck and just keeps getting dirtier. As the song progresses it just rolls around shaking and shivering in a fevered dream. Not many bands can pull this off but Night Beats have the chops and the charisma to do it. Both bands deliver their “A” game! ~ J Castro
I got a particular feeling when I saw this album cover and it was indeed reinforced! Mr. Rother delivers some fun and sweaty old fashioned rhythm and blues with heavy slathers of Stax and Motown spread on top. This record is to be played loud and in a room where there is plenty of dancing space. If not, Sir Isaac Rother & the Phantoms cannot be held responsible for any of your materialistic junk that will get pummeled if not removed from the premises. I can only imagine what a show this band must put on live. ~ J Castro
Three guys and a couple of lady vixens give forth a smooth and charmingly campy 60’s style psych rock which glides smoothly to and fro around the room on a magic carpet of keyboards and tambourines. The album in general is pretty dark and laid back at the same time, which from what I read, is a turn of styles from the last album these Chicagoans put out. Their previous material I guess is a bit brighter. Not exactly my cup of tea but I respect the mystical power this album illuminates from its nucleus. ~ J Castro
I liked this album from the first time I played it. It’s got a very tinny lo-fi production and the style of punk Spokenest play coupled with its production reminds me of something that what would have been on a Killed By Death comp. It’s raw, angry yet melodic enough to not sound like a bunch of crap hurled at you by a couple of kids that are pissed at their parents for not letting them stay out late. But then I started thinking about it more and I came to the conclusion that if they had better production it would sound like run of the mill crusty Conflict style anarcho punk with the guy/girl trade off vocals. Here’s to hoping Spokenest stay on the cheap!
~ J Castro
Holy smokes this is one heavy slab of wax! This is my first time hearing TV Freaks and rest assured it is not going to be my last. Right out of the gate the song “Leeches Master” almost severed my head clean off my narrow shoulders and all three tracks on this 7” are consistently great. They discharge furious, shot out of the sky and coming down hard in flames style of fuzz punk/post punk/hardcore. It’s so great when I can find remnants of bands like The Stooges and Swell Maps among the wreckage. OK, I’m going to stop writing this review now so I can go listen to more TV Freaks! ~ J Castro
Whew what a relief it was when I put on this record and it wasn’t a straight up Sky Saxon influenced psych band that seems to be running amok these days. Space Raft instead have a quenching 1970’s sound with big hooks and melodies powerful enough to sweep you off your feet. This is the perfect album to put on a warm, cloudless Sunday afternoon when there’s nothing really to do but take a drive and collect your thoughts. They’ve been compared to Big Star and Mathew Sweet: I have no reason to argue. This is in fact a terrific album and I will have words with anyone saying anything to the contrary. Unless of course I listen to some Space Raft, it chills me out, and then I won’t give a crap what you think. ~ J Castro
I want to take a sample from the water source that supplies Vancouver BC and mainline it in hopes of getting a small taste of whatever if fueling the creative explosion up there. Slow Learners come out drunkenly swinging with some loud, ultra melodic rock n’ roll ruckus. I’m sure the band is tired of the Replacements comparisons, but it’s unavoidable I’m afraid. This record completely holds its own though. After all, there are worse bands to be compared to ~ J Castro
This is the debut LP from these Vancouver residents and hard drinkers. With an album name like this you’d think they would be some total goof ball pop punk or spazzed out lo-fi trash bash. Not so however, the Binz have more in common, musically anyway, with hard rocking punk bands like Electric Frankenstein. I also detect a hint of Glenn Danzig in vocalist Gary Robertz. Just when you think you know what this band is all about they start throwing in Queens of The Stone Age style riffs in the songs and some post punk angularity in as well. Solid record: the energy is kept at a constant high and it never gets boring. ~ J Castro
Coming to us from Berlin are former members of Idle Hands and Modern Pets who are now calling themselves Blank Pages. This is some first-rate melodic punk rock that sounds like it could have come from Denton TX. It has a lot in common with current bands like Radioactivity and Bad Sports. The biggest difference though is the new Radioactivity LP seems to shine a bit more with positive vibes, this record produces more an atmosphere of darkness and desperation. Not all the tracks are like this though, there are some sunnier numbers. Check out the song “All in Due Time” for example. This is a high-quality record with good production on an excellent record label. ~ J Castro
We start off with Carbondale IL’s Autonomy who mix mid tempo Fugazi inspired music with sudden bursts of fury and anarcho/crusty punk politics. On the flipside is Boston’s No Sir I Won’t. Both bands have a similar “Peace Punk” agenda but it’s No Sir I Won’t that brings the similar fury to Crass/Rudimentary Peni to the table, epically with songs like “Occupy” and “Support Authority.” You can kind of tell what you’re getting into with some of the song names and especially with the album cover. Not really my groove, but both bands are tightly wound up and don’t come off as amateurish. ~ J Castro
I love it when a record cover embodies the same mood as the band’s music. This record is full of sun light, fun catchy hooks and is pretty much a guaranteed party starter wherever it’s played. This Ottawa quartet keeps it wild, loose, and easy going on their 2nd full length. This is what The Beach Boys would have sounded like if they had smoked up earlier in their career and sustained themselves on a steady diet of Doritos, Donuts, and Beer. ~ J Castro
This California trio sites bands like Green Day, NOFX, and Bad Religion as direct influences. It barely comes out in their music though. From what their bio says, all three members of the band contribute equally to the writing of the music. That actually becomes apparent as the record plays through. The album pretty much continues to mellow as it progresses until we get to the second to the last song simply titled “V,” which is pretty much a full on ballad. Good alternative music with some punk angst played by nice looking boys and girls. ~ J Castro
The Gaggers are heavily influenced by the late 1970’s era of punk rock and take that manic energy, snotty vocals, and ferociously catchy hooks that were so prevalent back then to a new and uncharted level on this, their second LP. I hear some Yankee influences like Zeros, Crime, and Heartbreakers a bit more it seems this time around. Don’t worry though; they still have that singer with one hand in the piss and the other in the vinegar waiting to smear it into your eyes. Those loud, sharp, distorted guitars and that rhythm section that doesn’t seem like they’re pounding on traditional drum heads or bass strings, but I could swear it’s the sound of taut human flesh! ~ J Castro
Giorgio Murderer - Primitive World EP (Goner)
Rob from Buck Biloxi and the Fucks put the guitars in the corner for a bit and brought out the keyboards and goes a bit Lost Sounds on us. This is some super trashy, lo-fi, demented synth-punk. Four short shotgun blasts of fun campy music like Hairspray meets Evil Dead 2 in the Thunder Dome. The whole vibe I get from this record is darkness, bleakness, no future type stuff. But like I said before, the way it’s presented and recorded makes it fun, not like you’re listening to Subhumans or anything, just super cool sci-fi sounds for your enjoyment! ~ J Castro
If any of you were lucky enough to hear this band’s 1st EP, you know what you’re in for: some of the best rock n’ roll songs produced by human hands in decades. The band consists of The Connection’s Brad and Geoff, the one and only Kurt Baker, and songwriting partner Mr. Mike Chaney. The opener “Real Gone Kitty” explodes with Jerry Lee Lewis piano fury. Then it smoothly glides into the Elvis Costello-ish “Dream Girl” and finally into the third and final number: “Brain Gone Dead” that sounds like it could have been a lost Ramones track from the Rocket to Russia LP. Exciting, exhilarating, exceptional: all understatements when describing this record and this band. ~ J Castro
The Cheap Cassettes consist of two former members of the late 1990’s underground heroes Dimestore Haloes and this disc doesn’t stray too far from that band’s latter material. Sleazed up, glammed out rock n’ roll music with irresistible hooks and a 1970’s swagger. Listening to this CD, I can hear influences from all decades of rock music in the songs. From the opening title track that has an almost Motown style opening riff to “Seconds of Pleasure” and “Girlfriend” which sound like it could have been a hit in the mid to late 80’s. Cheap Cassettes gently weave all of this into their own sound though, and that sound is terrific rock n’ roll music with a quality that transcends time and genres. ~ J Castro
This Berlin threesome fling forth a terrific brand of lo-fi garage pop punk that falls somewhere between the Spoiled Brats and Tilt with Male/Female vocals. They’ve been around since 2010 but had to change their name a couple of times and burned up a couple of drummers from what I read. This is a good quality, fun release just how I like ‘em: short, fast, loud, with catchy choruses. Wanda Records out of Germany is another label that you can just blindly buy whatever they put out and be assured you are getting a quality product. This record just further adds to their amazing catalog! ~ J Castro
Wanda does America! Southern California heroes (and current tour mates with Eddie and The Hotrods) serve up a two song of their brand of tough, fast yet melodic punk rock that seem to perfectly blend early European punk bands like The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers with Southern California legends like Adolescents and Circle Jerks. I know what you’re thinking: two songs?? That’s it?? Yeah, but both songs are winners, no throwaways here, and “Can’t Express” is probably my favorite Dime Runner song and I count myself as a fan of this band. ~ J Castro
Geez can Wanda Records put out a bad record? I am starting to think they can’t! This is yet another great poppy punk record by the band Latex Squad, also from the great nation of Germany. From what I can gather, they just formed earlier this year and put out this record not too long after of good lean goof ball punk rock that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The production on the record is pretty raw and minimalistic but in this case it adds to the charm. So projecting their releases based on their past performance, I eagerly anticipate a career spanning box set by the holidays! ~ J Castro
What impresses me the most about Ricky C Quartet is how they effortlessly evolved from an acid spewing ‘77 style punk band to a stripped down, pub rock style similar to the 101’ers and Dr Feelgood. Recent Affairs still does have some songs that will thoroughly relocate the roof of your house (see “Rock the Boat” or “Sometimes”) but RCQ have slowed down the pace here just a bit too. Any good and serious band has to evolve or they risk becoming tired and complacent but the trick is to evolve down a path that your fans can follow along as well. Not only did they choose the right path but they paved it with gold, making it impossible to resist. ~ J Castro
Immediately after hearing the first few seconds of this record I knew I was going to love it. Late 1970’s style power pop punk like The Undertones or Buzzcocks mixed with a splash of The Dickies, just so that things don’t get too serious on us. The Tents have a number of 7”’s and another LP prior but I feel like they really found a unique sound or “niche” if you will, on this release. I realize I compared them to other bands, but although I can hear some of their influences coming through, these Swedes spin it their own way. That’s what makes it so exciting. Super enjoyable, super amazing record that commands repeat listens. ~ J Castro
If anyone is still unfamiliar with this band, let me give you my take. Testors were around NYC in the mid to late 1970’s punk scene and fit right in with the rest of the bands that immediately come to mind when mentioning that era. Not as sleazy as Stiv and the Dead Boys, not the class clowns like The Dictators or as hopelessly romantic as Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, but perhaps a great blend of all three. Sonny Vincent and Greg Sinigalliano produced some raw, passionate punk rock n’ roll that should be held up with praise as high as any of the above-mentioned bands. This release, like the title states, has it all. Studio recordings and live mayhem, most of the live stuff sounds pretty good too. Again, if you are unfamiliar with the Testors, there is no better place to start to get acquainted! ~ J Castro
I had no idea what to expect based on the cover picture. But I had confidence in my lads in Alien Snatch not to let me down and they didn’t. This is some chaotic garage rock with one foot in a bucket of contemporary influences like International Noise Conspiracy or DC’s The Make Up and the other knee deep in Sonics and Billy Childish. Terrifically catchy guitar riffs, a rhythm section you can actually hear and a singer with enough swagger and charisma to steer this outta control flaming jet liner right into your soul and park it there. While it’s sitting there on fire, burning a hole in your soul, you’ll realize you don’t want it extinguished! ~ J Castro
These reviews originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on November 6th, 2014
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