Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2024, Part Seven.
Links: Punk Rock Record Reviews Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six.
I listen primarily to punk, with my preferred subgenre 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 that are in contention for the best release of the year. 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.
Electric Frankenstein “Reanimated Rock”
Released: October 31, 2024 (digital October 4, 2024 for bandcamp Friday)
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Reptilian Records
From: New Jersey (and later North Carolina)
The great artwork by Coop always draws me in. I put Electric Frankenstein in a class with my favorite speed rock bands, but they are hit and miss with me. Many times they are closer to rock than punk and don’t add the speed that a lot of the speed rock bands have (which is my personal preference). This album also includes covers of rock bands that I’m just not into (Alice Cooper, Ace Frehley, Black Sabbath). I may have skipped this altogether, other than one amazing thing—they cover “Degenerated” by Reagan Youth. A couple of other songs looked interesting as well (Groovie Ghoulies, The Hip Priests, The Dead Boys) so I gave it a spin.
This album is organized with the rock songs first, followed by the stuff I am after. As expected, the rock songs were relatively boring for my taste…. but the second half of the record redeemed it. Even though they slowed down the Reagan Youth song, it was really good. I also liked the cover of The Hip Priests “Young Savage,” and a few more weren’t bad. Overall, this is recommended if you like covers and especially if you are an Electric Frankenstein fan. According to their website, they also have a new record, “Shipwrecked/Annie’s Grave Revisited,” coming soon on Boxer Face Records. Look for it.
Stalag 13 - Holding On (Vol. 1)
Released: March 15, 2024
Format: Vinyl 12”, digital download
Label: Oxnard Records
From: Oxnard, CA
Yes, this is the same Nardcore skate punk band that put out the classic “In Control” LP back in 1984 (also getting a deluxe re-issue). I missed it, but they also put out another LP, “Fill in the Silence,” just a few years ago in 2021. They have a new singer (John Crerar), and for those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, they are doing a 2024 tour. Here’s a video of their classic "Conditioned," but the new songs are just as good. If you like this, then you will want to check them out. Fans of SSD, Dr. Know, Ill Repute, Aggression, and Nardcore in general.
NOFX “The Mega Download / Live In 2023”
Released: June 24, 2024
Format: digital download
Label: Self released
From: San Francisco, CA
As everyone knows by now, NOFX just finished their final tour. It ran from 2023 through October 2024 and originally was supposed to be 40 songs in 40 cities around the world (although I think that was extended). For some of the shows in 2023, you could pre-order a digital download of the show (along with your ticket), and they were also planning to press 3xLP’s from each show. The digital downloads never materialized; apparently not all of the recordings were of the necessary quality (which also meant scrapping some of the planned vinyl, I assume). As of the time I’m writing this, they have only released “Live in Linz” 3xLP and “Live in Barcelona” 3xLP. And of course, there is this mega download that contains 70 (all different) songs from 8 cities and runs for 2 hours and 54 minutes.
NOFX released several live albums in the past, including “I Heard They Suck Live!” “They’ve Actually Gotten Worse Live!” and “Ribbed: Live In A Dive.”. All of them are good. I’ve seen them more times than I can recall, including 7 times on the “Final Tour”. They definitely do not suck live, but the live recordings aren’t normally comparable to their studio recordings (for the straight up music). They do add a lot of banter and jokes live; they mess up songs and change the words, and that makes for entertaining live shows.
If you want live recordings to play on repeat or mix into your studio playlists, I’d go with the previously mentioned recordings. These are great for a listen or two, but not outstanding (in all fairness, I did play this download for an entire weekend and really enjoyed it). I started with Linz, as I figured that would be the highlight since they pressed a 3xLP of the entire show. That was not the case; there were only three songs from Linz (Austria), and Mike’s voice was not sounding great (Melvin is a questionable stand-in). Those did include two of their marquee songs (“Linoleum” and “Stickin’ in My Eye), however. I moved on to Orlando next, since that was one of the shows I was at. We got five songs from Orlando, which sounded better.
It picked up even more with a solid 14 songs from Leeds. I’d expect this to be a candidate for a 3xLP if they keep pressing them. At this point, I realized that I was disappointed that we weren’t getting more of the banter and jokes; that’s what would have made the live recordings worth even more repeated listens. We did get a few references to cocaine and “When Eric Melvin’s giving blowjobs, we’ll probably never have world peace” during “72 Hookers.”. The standout from Leeds was a 10 minute version of “Theme From A NOFX Album” that was updated for pushing 60 and even mentioned Hefe’s role on The Mayans TV show. It’s hard to pull Eric Melvin away from that accordion; he just keeps on wanting to play.
I continued with Barcelona, San Francisco, Austin, Tacoma, Hatfield, and a few songs that didn’t have a city listed. A couple of songs from Austin and Tacoma were stand-outs (I really liked “100 Times Fuckeder” from Tacoma). I noted a shout out to RKL (also one of my favorite bands), but it was essentially more of the same. This is definitely worth a listen now and maybe again in the future if NOFX actually stays in retirement and all we have are these recordings. I’m just glad I could actually be there for so many of their shows; they were truly a highlight of my life.
Yellowcake “A Fragmented Truth”
Released: September 20, 2024
Format: 7” vinyl, digital download
Label: Total Peace Records
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Ultra-fast, short (6 songs, 4 of which are under 2 minutes), screaming, hardcore punk/anarcho/crust/D-beat. This one got the vinyl treatment, being made into a 7”. As always with this type of release, it’s not for everyone. Personally, I love music made for moshing (how could anyone stand still at a show like this?). Great song names, including “Vinyl Chloride Rain," “Mind Scabbed Over,” and “Blood Soaked System,” but for the most part I can’t tell what they are saying (screaming), and I couldn’t find lyrics. I can tell you that I really liked this and that anyone into hardcore this crazy will love this band. Fans of Corrupt Faith, Drop Dead, Charles Bronson, Spazz, and Wolfcharge.
The Pist “Is Risen”
Released: January 1, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, cassette, digital download
Label: Profane Existence / Havoc Records
From: Connecticut
Bugger off you bloody sod, this is their first new music since 1996. Back when I was a vinyl collector, I remember having their “Ideas Are Bulletproof” record (which has also been remastered and reissued). They were a solid punk/hardcore band back then, and it still holds true today. Fans of Anti-Heros, Agnostic Front, DRI, MDC, Stalag 13, or good 80’s style hardcore will want to check this out.
The Pist “Right To Choose”
Released: August 2, 2024
Format: Vinyl 7”, digital download
Label: Wild Mutation Records
From: Connecticut
This is a follow-up to their full length earlier this year (their first release in nearly 3 decades), and updates several previously released songs (in both lyrics and sound). The title song adds several guest (female) vocalists and the b-side is truer to their live shows (with no piano). A worthwhile addition to their discography if you are a fan, and also should be great for those 7” vinyl collectors.
Chubby and the Gang “And Then There Was…”
Released: September 15, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Flatspot Records
From: London, U.K.
Apparently this is Chubby without the gang; word has it that Charles “Chubby” Manning-Walker wrote and performed this entire album. It’s hard to call this “hardcore” all the way through, but it definitely has hardcore influences. I never lost interest playing it straight through, but “Anti Cop” was a standout and the song that made my monthly play list. The name of the band didn’t really catch my attention the last couple of times they came through Detroit, and I missed them, but next time I will definitely go out of my way to check them out.
Toys That Kill “Ex-Posse (Vol. One)”
Released: October 4, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Recess Records
From: Los Angeles, CA
If you read a lot of my reviews, you know that I’m a huge fan of Todd Congelliere (Toys That Kill, F.Y.P., Clown Sounds, Recess Records). Anything that he puts out, I’m usually going to grab up right away. This isn’t actually a new Toys That Kill full length, but instead a compilation of tracks from splits and comps, with just a couple of unreleased tracks added to sweeten the deal. I haven’t heard most of them anyway, so it’s even better. Toys That Kills isn’t quite as punk rock as F.Y.P. but has the same sound (and Todd’s vocals), so I’ve always liked them, and this fits right into that same category. I love the Raymond Pettibon artwork as well. If you dig the Recess Records sound, F.Y.P. or Toys That Kill, this is as good as anything they have done. Released on Todd’s birthday, so Happy Birthday Todd.
Slug Boys “Mother Mary”
Released: Released: October 11, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Oslo, Norway
I love Norway. I also love how Scandinavia loves crazy music; it’s not just a rumor, as I’ve been there and experienced it. From what I can tell, Slug Boys are technically a post-punk band, and they are releasing a series of singles leading up to a full album in 2025. They sent “Mother Mary” to In-Spite Magazine for review, and I found “Glasnost” on YouTube. I don’t usually like anything but punk, but these songs are definitely hardcore influenced, and I liked both right away (especially “Mother Mary”). I’ll be looking out for their full length next year, and if I ever get back to Norway, I’d certainly look for a show.
Manic Outburst “Dead and Dying Fast”
Released: September 26, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Detroit, MI
Self described as crossover thrash metal, these guys are local to me (Detroit area). Absolutely great live; they play hardcore and speed rock shows (as well as metal shows, I assume). They previously released two CDr albums (“Manic Outburst” in 2014 and “Violent Agitation” in 2018). I’ve been looking forward to a new album, and it looks like we will have one soon. In September they released the first single, “Defeated, Blinded, and Deceived”” from their upcoming album “Dead and Dying Fast” (7 songs, 28 minutes). I was also lucky enough to see a few of the new songs live, and I’ll leave you with a video of “Dead and Dying Fast” from a show at the legendary Smalls Bar in Hamtramck, Michigan. Fans of Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, RKL, Stormtroopers of Death, Against the Grain, metal/punk crossover, thrash, or hardcore should check these guys out. And look for the new CD as soon as it’s out.
