Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2024, Part Four.
Links: Punk Rock Record Reviews Part One, Part Two, Part Three
I listen primarily to punk, with my preferred sub-genre being street punk. Speed rock, garage, skate punk, hardcore, pop punk, oi! ska, grindcore, and even rockabilly fit the bill if done right. If I can catch a live show, it gives the release an edge. Here are a few releases from 2024 that I recommend you check out. These are in no particular order, however, I’m only reviewing releases in contention for the year's top releases. If I’m reviewing it, I liked it. When the New Year rolls around, I’ll put them in order and do a final article of the best of the best. Drop a comment at the bottom if there is a 2024 release you think I should check out; I most definitely will.
Total Hell “Killed By Evil”
Released: August 16, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Total Punk
Prior to the full release, they let us preview the two songs “Killed By Evil” and “Satanic Fist” which are both crazy good. It looks like they had only two prior releases, a cassette in 2019 and a single in 2021. They are fast and upbeat enough to be considered punk, but with deep, growling vocals and satanic imagery that point to death metal. It reminded me of the first time I heard Toxic Holocaust, and thought, “So what if this isn’t punk? It’s good, and it’s going on my punk playlist.”. The song “Killed By Evil” caught my attention right away, along with the fact that the intro just prior was 1:38 (that can’t be a coincidence). I had already given those two songs a good bit of play, when August 16th rolled around and the full album was released. I played it immediately. When “Unholy Liar” came on, I almost thought I was listening to The Meatmen. Good stuff, and this added a few more songs to my monthly playlist.
Snuff “Off On The Charabanc”
Released: March 22, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: SBAM Records
From: London, U.K.
Snuff has been around since the late 1980’s, produced around a dozen full lengths, and is arguably one of the best punk bands ever to come out of the U.K. Before I get into this release, let me rave a little about how much I love Snuff. If you are not familiar with them, they have some of the best album titles ever (their debut was called “Snuffsaidbutgorblimeyguvstonemeifhedidntthrowawobblerchachachachachachachachachachachayouregoinghomeinacosmicambience“ and they later released “Demmamussabebonk” & “Flibbiddydibbiddydob”). There are so many good Snuff songs, but my favorite is probably “Kiss My Ring” from “There’s A Lot Of It About”. “Dicky Trois”, “Squirrels”, “Mumbo Jumbo”, “Emperor”, “Ichola Budha”, “Looks Alright From Here”, “Bran Flakes”, & “Nick Northern” are all classic punk songs from this extremely underrated band.
In case you are wondering, the cover is a photo of a Charabanc. I was a little apprehensive about this one, as it mixes acoustic and electric songs. I generally don’t like it when bands go acoustic. Even really great bands. Snuff has always had horns and organs, so it wasn’t too much of a stretch, but I’ll admit that the acoustic aren’t my favorites here. They redeem themselves several times over with the other songs, however. “Fireball” and “Booster” are easily my favorites, but the electric songs all have that unmistakable Snuff sound, with the fast drum beats, catchy melodies and trademark alternate instruments. None of the songs are overly long, and there are even a few screams here and there (they have an exceptionally talented singer and songwriter in Duncan Redmonds, who could easily cross over into other genres than punk rock). Thankfully, he has stayed with Snuff.
The Jasons / RatBones “Blitzkrieg Blasphemy”
Released: June 6, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Mom’s Basement Records
From: Brownsville, PA
I was lucky enough to catch The Jasons live a few years ago, on tour with The Queers and The Dwarves. Bonus, it was a very small venue (The Loving Touch in Ferndale, MI). They were amazing, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Yes, they all wear Jason Voorhees masks (Friday the 13th), and most of their songs are Ramonescore with a horror theme. It seems like that would get old, but it never really does.
This is another scorcher, with both bands doing an original and a cover of the other band. The Jasons original song “Satan Sells” is one of their best, and this download is worth the cost ($4) just for that. Ratbones is a good fit for the split, and they do a great cover of The Jasons “American Slasher.”.
Suburban Resistance “Earth S.R.”
Released: April 29, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: I M Records
From: Las Vegas, NV
I first heard the song "Asskisser," which drew me in, and I tracked down the new release. It looks like they have put out a full length every year since 2019, so they have been busy (5 releases in 5 years). There are a lot of good songs on here, which makes me really wish I had the time to go back and listen to the other four (I will someday). “All My Nights” and “Chainsaw” will probably also make my monthly playlist, along with "Asskisser.”. They sound a lot like The Dead Krazukis, which is a compliment, of course. I heard some Danzig in “Blood On Your Hands” and The Jasons in "Chainsaw.”. Overall, I really liked this release, and it grew on me the more I played it. Fans of The Dead Krazukis, Bad Religion, RKL, or punk rock with a slight metal edge, whoas, and gruff vocals will love this band. Looking forward to more, and I love the nod to The Misfits “Earth A.D.” in the cover art.
Strung Out “Dead Rebellion”
Released: April 5, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
From: Los Angeles, CA
Strung Out has just released their 10th studio album, and now have been together for 35 years. They have become a household name with their relentless touring and by playing all of the major festivals. I’ve seen them more than a few times, and they are a great live band. I’d say that the peak of my being a fan was their 2019 “Songs of Armor and Devotion”, which contained their best song “Strange Notes”. I think a lot of punks would also call their 1998 release “Twisted By Design” somewhat of a classic with songs like “Too Close To See” and “Deville”. I’m definitely a fan, but when I saw that every song on this one was 3 minutes plus, with a few pushing 4 minutes, I was a bit disappointed. I didn’t dislike “Dead Rebellion”, but their sound is more rock and less punk rock. I’ll continue to follow them, but I’m hoping in the future they get back to their punk roots.
Cock Sparrer “Hand On Heart”
Released: April 5, 2024
Format: 180 gram Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Chase The Ace Records (UK), Randale Records (EU), Pirates Press Records (USA)
From: London, UK
It’s hard to believe they have been around for over 50 years, forming in 1972 and with their first vinyl release in 1977 on Decca. This is a professionally recorded release, with their anthemic sound in full force. According to the band, this will be their last release, and they are going out with a bang. Anyone reading this already knows what a legendary band this is, and will certainly be picking this one up. If you aren’t familiar with them, check out this video and then go back and get their entire discography.
Fans of old school punk/oi!, Booze & Glory, The Drowns, and Sham 69 will love Cock Sparrer.
Itchy and the Nits “The Worst Of”
Released: March 22, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, cassette, digital download
Label: Total Punk
From: Sydney, Australia
Another all girl band, this time a trio from Australia. This has a pop-punk garage sound that is just punk enough and just catchy enough that I like it. No songs over 2 minutes is also a plus in my book. I picked up on "Theme," "Parasites,” and “Beat It Bozo!” right away, but all of the songs are similarly good. It looks like they had a cassette in 2023 (their first release), and this contains some of those songs, along with some new songs. I guess it’s both a “best of…” and a “worst of…” since they have a limited number of songs and most of them are here. Fans of Devo, Snooper, The Chats, Amyl & The Sniffers, Ming City Rockers, the whole slew of Ramonescore bands, and raw garage rock/punk will want to check this out.
Deny “Call Of The Void”
Released: August 30, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: DSTAT Records
From: Sweden
Deny is punk/crust/hardcore from Sweden. This is the first release that I received from In Spite Magazine directly, as a pre-release, to review. 4 song EP, and I loved it on first listen. I’d never heard of this band, and I’m really glad that this came my way. In preparation for this review, I also went back and listened to (and purchased) a few of their older releases, including “I Hate Jesus” and “Past Parasites.” All good, actually great, and they seem to be getting better over time (despite multiple line-up changes, and some time off).
I’ve heard that Scandinavian countries love this kind of crazy music, but it really hit home a few years ago when I was in Norway on a family vacation and we went into a few bars that were playing death metal or hardcore in the background (where a U.S. bar would more than likely have had 80’s rock or country on). I’m betting these guys are big back in Sweden.
Check out this video and you will be a fan too (but note that I picked this video because it’s well produced and a good song, but the real gem from “Call of the Void” is the song “Call of the Void”).
Destroy Boys “Funeral Soundtrack #4”
Released: August 9, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Hopeless Records
From: Sacramento, CA
Destroy Boys played at Punk Rock Bowling this year, and I missed their set. That was partially by design, as I listen to all the bands in advance and then try to set a schedule to see the most bands with the best songs. Nothing by Destroy Boys jumped out at me. I was happy to see a new release from Destroy Boys, so that I can give them a second chance and pay a bit more attention (rather than being part of the chaos of trying to catch up on 130+ bands at once).
They call themselves a garage rock band, and while the singer (Alexia Roditis) is non-binary, their sound would fit in with many of today’s female-fronted bands. To be honest, the first time I heard them, as well as when I first spun this one, my initial thought was that this isn’t punk (which isn’t bad, it just means that I wouldn’t want to see them live or review the record). The songs are mostly longer, without the punk beat, and a few are in Spanish—I would classify them as alternative rock. After a few listens though, a couple of the really short songs stuck out (and I also noticed that they had one song, which was a collaboration with Scowl). “Beg For The Torture” (1:25) and “Should’ve Been Me” (1:02) are the redeeming songs on this one, and worth a listen. Fans of Amyl & The Sniffers, Starcrawler, and Die Spitz might be interested, and I guess they did tour with Blink 182, so there is that.
V/A “Recess Romp Three!!!”
Released: Released: July 26, 2024
Format: digital download
Label: Recess Records
It looks like this was made for a three day festival at The Sardine in San Pedro, CA. I don’t see it anywhere other than Bandcamp, so it may be a digital download only release. This is the third installment of the festival, hence the name of this release (although I did take a quick look, and there was a similar release for Recess Romp 1). I’ll start right off by saying that Todd Congelliere is a genius, and that I love all of his bands (F.Y.P., Toys That Kill, Clown Sounds, etc.). I’m a huge fan of his label, Recess Records, and I’ll listen to anything that they put out (at least once).
Based on what I’m hearing on this comp, the festival would have been a banger. It starts off with a classic Off With Their Heads song, followed by one of my favorite Clown Sounds songs, “Tuck Belly Up.”. While the OWTH heads song is older, the Clown Sounds comes from their 2024 release “Par For The Curse,” which I will also be reviewing separately. Marked Men, The Arrivals, and Toys That Kill were also highlights. The best part, however, is that this comp is technically free (“name your price” with no minimum). While I always recommend donating something to the bands/labels on Bandcamp, at the very least download it for free and give it a listen; it will be worth your time.
