Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2024, Part Three.
Links: Punk Rock Record Reviews Part One, Part Two
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.
NOFX “Half Album”
Released: April 19, 2024
Format: Vinyl 12”, CD, digital download
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
From: Los Angeles, CA
This 5-song EP follows 2021’s “Single Album” and 2022’s “Double Album.” NOFX has been around for over 40 years and has well over 100 releases, so I’m sure this won’t be anyone’s first introduction to the band. The first song they previewed is a cover of Hi-Standard’s (Japanese) “I’m a Rat.” it’s a great song, a pretty good cover, and would fit right in as the original NOFX if you didn’t know it was a cover. The next three songs would be fantastic by any other band but are just mediocre in NOFX’s catalog (keep in mind that I’m biased, as I consider NOFX to be the greatest band of all time). But the real jewel here is the last song, “The Last Drag.” It comes in at a lengthy 6:10, but I’ve played it more times than I care to admit and will be playing it plenty more.
“’cause now I’m only happy when I’m broken when I’m cokin’ when someone’s choking me out.” The lyrics are top-notch, and as someone who has followed Fat Mike’s career since we were both kids (we are the same age), this song resonates as a real story from his life. Did I mention that I love this song? I just had to take a break from the review and listen to it twice. And there’s a twist ending, “From you!”
Buy this record just for “The Last Drag," and the rest will just be icing on the cake. And get the original “I’m a Rat” by Hi-Standard; it’s a great song as well and comes on a fancy one-sided picture disc.
Night Fever “Dead End”
Released: February 2, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, cassette, digital download
Label: Svart Records
From: Denmark
It looks like two of the songs were pre-released in 2023 as a single, “Killing Floor”. I’d recommend that you start with their first release, 2009’s “New Blood” (check out “Twilight Zone," “Better Off Dead,” and “Nuclear War”). And then go through everything else in their discography (to include 2014’s “Vendetta”). The band name and imagery didn’t jump out as punk rock at first, and even after a few listens, I was thinking that they would appeal to speed rock and metal fans, as much as hardcore/punk. But don’t let me dissuade you, no matter which of those genres you prefer, this band is FANTASTIC. “Rot” was the initial song on the newest release that had me turning my volume up to 120 (that’s a full blast on my iPod), but “Dead End," “Numb the Pain,” and “The Killing Floor” are all excellent. This is crazy good, should easily be a top 10 of the year.
Fans of Against the Grain (Detroit), The Hookers, Zeke, DRI, Stormtroopers of Death, Slayer, or any sort of fast hardcore with a metal edge should check this out. Another band that hopefully tours the U.S. one day or comes out for one of the big festivals. I’d definitely road trip for Night Fever.
The Corps! “Fractured Protocol”
Released: May 3, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Thousand Islands Records
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
It looks like the Corps! first release was a full-length “Tales From 2814” (check out “Supergirl”) in 2018, originally on Punk & Disorderly Records and then re-released by Thousand Islands Records. They then released an EP in 2022, “From Oblivion,” before this latest release in 2024. This is fast, tight sing-along skate punk with back-up vocals sung by every member of the band. I recently discovered several other really great bands on the same label (Thousand Islands Records), including Drunktank and Strike Twelve. Whoever is running this label knows what they are doing. Every song was right on target on the first play-through, so it took a couple of spins to narrow it down to "Tragedy," "Ionized," and “The Long Winter” as my favorites. All three of those are on my monthly playlist, and I’ll be searching out any future releases by The Corps!
Normally, I like to include a video from the current release, which in this case is good. But the song “Supergirl” from their 2018 release is just so good, I’m going to start you out with that one. Check this out, and if you like it, get the CD and then move through their discography to “Fractured Protocol.”
Fans of NOFX, Chaser, Pennywise, Authority Zero, Bad Religion, Drunktank or Strike Twelve will want to check this out.
Free Sergio “The Nail In The Coffee”
Released: April 5, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: High End Denim Records, Cat’s Claw Records, Punk Rock Radar
From: Tel Aviv, Israel
There have been some great releases so far in 2024, and this one is no exception. I’m a sucker for fast, catchy hardcore/pop punk/ska with a dose of humor and this release has all of that in spades. It looks like they had one CD back in 2019, before this one. I first heard Free Sergio on the High End Denim Records compilation and they were also recommended by rival record reviewer Ryan Scott. Regardless of how I got there, I’m glad that I did. “Can’t Break Love," “Shitty Little City,” and “I Give Black Cats Bad Luck” are my picks for the best songs, but the entire release smokes. A couple of the songs are under a minute, and only one (out of 16) breaks the 2-minute mark. In my book, as long as the songs are good, that’s ideal.
Free Sergio is from Tel Aviv, Israel. This is another place that I would not have imagined having a punk scene, but I did some research and it’s there. I wasn’t aware before researching punk in Israel for this review, but Useless ID is also from Israel and several clubs regularly do shows. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over there, but if Free Sergio ever comes to my town, you can bet I will go see them. Fans of NOFX, Against All Authority, Operation Ivy, and The Suicide Machines should check this band out. Or please, take a minute and watch this video of “I Give Black Cats Bad Luck." It’s 2 minutes of your life well spent.
The Chisel “What A Fucking Nightmare”
Released: February 9, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Pure Noise RecordsLondon, UK
From: London, UK
This is hardcore/oi! at its best. I first heard The Chisel when I was listening to all of the bands on the 2023 Punk Rock Bowling roster, where they played both the festival and a club show. I also saw them live at the festival, and they absolutely killed it (if you check out my YouTube channel, I posted a video from the festival of “Unlawful Execution”). They are tight, fast, and angry, and the shows are energetic. My favorite song by The Chisel is “Force Fed” from their 2021 release "Retaliation,” but the new one also has some classics, including the fast and furious “Fuck 'Em," “No Gimmicks,” and “Evil By Evil.”.
Fans of Haymaker, Booze & Glory, Lions Law, Hudson Falcons, and Noi!se would want to check this one out, as well as fans of old-school UK punk. If you aren’t an Oi! fan yet, this would be a great band to start with. And you have to love the name of the album, it sets the stage for exactly how it sounds.
Invertebrates “Sick To Survive”
Released: May 21, 2024
Format: Vinyl 12”, digital download
Label: Beach Impediment Records
From: Richmond, VA
Blazing fast 80’s style hardcore, no songs over 2 minutes, screamed vocals, not overproduced, this release has it all. The first song, “No More,” will blow you away, I played it at least 5 times before I even moved on to the second song. Not every band that plays screaming hardcore makes it to my list of the best releases of the years, just because I love screaming hardcore. It has to be done right, and this is as right as it gets. The songs are just catchy enough that I can scream along, the guitars are discernible but not overly clean; the drums never let up; and there are a few leads in just the right places. It also doesn’t hurt that they have decent punk imagery and produced some variations of the vinyl for collectors (white vinyl, limited to 100). This plays well all of the way through, but if I had to pick a few best songs, I would go with “No More” and “Sick To Survive." Fans of Negative Approach, Jerry’s Kids, Poison Idea, Raw Power, N.O.T.A., and any fast-screaming 80’s hardcore will love this.
Fen Fen “National Threat”
Released: May 3, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Sweet Time
From: Detroit, MI
A band from my hometown that I haven’t seen live yet. I almost caught one of their shows at The Outer Limits Lounge, but it didn’t work out. Soon after, I saw a guy in the front row of a Snooper show at Third Man Records wearing a Fen Fen shirt, and it reminded me that I needed to review this one. Hopefully, they get onto some bigger bills in the future, and get some exposure; they are easily one of the best punk bands in the current Detroit area scene.
The band name is a reference to the weight loss drug fen-phen, which turned out to be deadly and was taken off the market back in the ’90s. This is top-notch garage punk, but their sound (and singer) reminds me of the early Dead Kennedys. Also, though, they would fit right in with some of the best garage punk bands of the last couple of decades (The Oblivians, The Humpers, The New Bomb Turks, and The Supersuckers). This is another band with short, fast songs, nothing over 2 minutes, and most closer to the 1-minute mark.
“I Wanna Meet Your Dog” caught my attention on the first listen, but in the end, “American Lies” was my favorite. Fans of Dead Kennedys, Reagan Youth, D.O.A., The Dicks (TX), and early Black Flag will be into this. And that is very high praise.
Clown Sounds “Par For The Curse”
Released: July 12, 2024
Format: Vinyl 12”, digital download
Label: Recess Records
From: Los Angeles, CA
I knew this was going to be good, both being on Recess Records and with Todd Congelliere (FYP, Toys That Kill) on guitar and vocals. I just saw FYP (for the second time) at Punk Rock Bowling, and they absolutely killed it. Todd’s talent is immense, and he brings it again to Clown Sounds. This is the first that I have heard of them, however, research shows that they had releases in both 2018 (“Preacher Maker”) and 2022 (“Born Under a Bad Sigh"), which I will be tracking down with haste.
The first three songs “Cut It Off”, “Primetime Recount”, and “Tuck Belly Up” along with the title track “Par for the Curse,” all made my monthly playlist. This is not quite as fast and snotty as FYP, but a little more so than Toys That Kill overall. I’m an instant fan, and already hoping for Todd’s return to Punk Rock Bowling’s 25 Anniversary next year with Clown Sounds… maybe a pool party?
Eyes of Salt “What To Do When The Worst Is Coming”
Released: April 22, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Denver, CO
I usually don’t dig too much into the lyrics initially, as I first have to like the songs (I take my time later for the very best songs/albums, to read through the lyrics and understand their meaning or the band’s overall message). This time, though, the band name and the album title both reference sadness so I did take a closer look while I was spinning it. This is somewhat of a concept album, with the first song being about grief and how it changes you, and the following songs each relating to a stage of grief.
That being said, this is some serious hardcore. I’m not familiar with the band Mindz Eye, however, the song “Smells Like Smoke” (which features the singer from Mindz Eye) particularly stuck out on this EP.
V/A “Punk Floyd - A Tribute to Pink Floyd”
Released: May 3, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Cleopatra
Let me start by saying that I wouldn’t be reviewing this if I didn’t like it. That being said, I haven’t heard most of these songs (I don’t dislike Pink Floyd; it’s just not the type of music I generally listen to) and this seems to be a poor choice of a non-punk band for punk bands to cover. For me to like this type of tribute, the songs need to be better than the originals and that means shorter, faster, and louder. I could see right off that there were a lot of 3- to 4-minute songs, and that was not a good sign. However, with bands like UK Subs, Peter & The Test Tube Babies, The Queers, DI, MDC, Angry Samoans, Fear, The Vibrators, Dead Boys, and JFA contributing, I figured it was worth at least one spin.
I was hoping for songs that sounded like “Comfortably Dumb” by The Pears (not necessarily a cover, but a great song that is loosely related to the Pink Floyd song “Comfortably Numb”). As expected, this started off really slow, with what I assume is the bands playing the songs very close to the originals (versus punk versions). DI was the first band that may have sped it up a little, and it was good but still too long and not fast enough (for my taste). JFA and the Anti-Nowhere League also seemed to do a decent job but with the same issues. And then I came to The Angry Samoans, “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)." A song that I have heard before (the original), and they both sped it up and gave it an Angry Samoans sound. If I end up making a list of the best covers of 2024, this one will make the list, and it prompted me to write up a review. If you are a Pink Floyd fan, you may want to check out this entire CD, but otherwise go directly to The Angry Samoans (at Bandcamp, you can buy only the songs that you like).
