San Diego garage punk power trio The Schizophonics signed to Alternative Tentacles and dropped their debut single “Black Pleather” from their forthcoming album Burning Floor, featuring a cameo from Melvins drummer Dale Crover in the video. North American Fall tour kicks off September 17. Watch it now and grab your tickets below. Continue reading
Lima, Peru’s Illwind surface with their debut full-length The Unfolding at the End of Light, out July 3rd via Personal Records on CD, stream “Crimson Skies” and pre-order the album at the links below. Continue reading
Life On The Moon (Deathwish Inc) is Modern Life Is War’s first full-length in over a decade. They have returned and are deviating from what you might expect from Punk in 2025. It does not stray dramatically from what the definition of Punk was in the mid seventies. They still carry most of the aggression, though layers of singing chime in for the chorus of “First Song On The Moon.” The guitars carry a frantic jangle rather than a Hardcore chug. “There Is A Telephone That Never Stops Ringing” finds the urgency building into an explosion. The kind of organic chaos The Stooges once kicked up. Continue reading
Regarding psych rock, I have heard some of the best bands ever. They seem to come primarily from every place except for America. I have seen amazing bands from Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Spain. For the first time, I’m hearing a band from Cape Cod, South Africa. Moskitos have put Cape Town on the map as a new, untapped hub for psychedelic rock with their stellar debut album Mirage (The Good Times Co.) Continue reading
CNTS is a classy band. You already know that before you’ve heard a note of the music. So for the uninitiated (this being the band’s second album, following their self-titled 2019 debut) what are you going to expect of Thoughts & Prayers (Ipecac Recordings)? Continue reading
On Friday February 2nd the Rock ’n’ Roll world was saddened the passing of “Brother” Wayne Kramer, founding member and guitarist of the legendary, influential Detroit band the MC5. Issued on Black Friday, 2023 via Saustex Records Call Me Animal: A Tribute to the MC5 was never intended as a send-off for Brother Wayne, but his untimely passing makes its recent release feel even more serendipitous. Conceived by Joey “Joecephus” Killingsworth, the album was several years in the making with his band/collective Joecephus and the George Jonestown Massacre and his production partner Dik LeDoux. Kramer himself participated in the project, laying down a smoking version of “Human Being Lawnmower” with Jello Biafra.
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Monster Magnet probably needs no introduction to anyone who has paid any degree of attention to the alternative rock scene over the last 25 years or more. The band has always been unashamedly and unapologetically rockist in their approach. Largely ignoring scenes such as grunge as they have come and gone, Monster Magnet have managed to pump out album after album of classic heavy rock, and they continue to play to huge audiences. Somehow they have always stood out from the crowd of rock revivalists and “stoner” bands. Whilst the music of many of these retro bands so often feels tired and trite when compared to the 60s or 70s bands they try to copy, they always exuded a special kind of conviction, authenticity and raw power that sets them apart. Maybe this has something to do with (singer, guitar player and only original member) Dave Wyndorf having been born in 1956 and so having actually lived through the 60s and 70s. Either way, the music has always felt just as legitimate and classy as records by Motörhead or Deep Purple.
During this time of self-isolation and quarantine, we are all just looking to keep entertained and our minds busy. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thankfully is answering the call, sharing their treasure trove of content from their history. They have shared their Punk and New Wave Collection to watch their YouTube playlist and archival stories from Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, Patti Smith Group, The Clash, The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, Lou Reed, and Green Day. The Rock Hall also has history lessons on the genre for rockers of any age! Continue reading
Sweden’s soulful throwback rockers Dictator Ship are releasing their new album, Your Favorites, tomorrow, April 17th via The Sign Records. Your Favorites was recorded in a small cabin in Värmland, Sweden, engineered by band member John Sijbren Leonard using only lo-fi aesthetics and gear to achieve that old-school sound. If you love the primal scent of raw rock with no B.S. Like classic proto-punk rock bands such as MC5, The Saints, The Stooges, The Sonics and more, you will love Dictator Ship! Jam out to all of Your Favorites right now and pre-order it too! Continue reading
