Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2024, Part Thirteen.
Punk Rock Record Reviews Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve.
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.
Rotten Stitches “Above The Ashes”
Released: 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Charged Records
From: Atlanta, Georgia
I caught these guys live in 2022 on tour with The Casualties and Stolen Wheelchairs at Smalls Bar and still remember thinking that I needed to track down their releases. It took a while, but here I am with their 2024 release, "Above the Ashes." It doesn't hurt that David Rodriguez (The Casualties, Krum Bums, Starving Wolves) guests on two songs, and that they play street punk (my favorite sub-genre). In any case, this smokes and is the best street punk that I have spun in a long time. There is a video for "Murder of Crows," which is also one of the best songs, so you should start there. "Scars" and "Face Your Fear" were also standouts, but this is solid all the way through. Fans of Terror Attack, The Casualties, A Global Threat, Cheap Sex, Starving Wolves, or street punk in general will want to get this right away. Essential.
30 Foot Fall “Live At Fitzgerald’s”
Released: November 29, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: People of Punk Rock
From: Houston, TX
30 Foot Fall is on my short list of bands that I have never seen live, but need to. I'm still hoping that somehow they end up on the roster for this year's Punk Rock Bowling (pool party or club show?), given that they have an all new studio LP this year as well as this live one. I've been a fan of 30 Foot Fall for decades, and can say that this is almost exactly as I would have done it if they had me picking the songs. This includes all of their best songs ("Hooray", "Breaking The Weather", "Two Wheels, One Dark Lord", "Punk Rocks In Your Head", "Attack of the Flaming Egos", etc.). Also a Vandals cover "Oi To The World!", and "National Treasure" which is the title track from this year's studio LP. Their studio stuff is better, but for fans this is well worth a listen.
Wolfcharge “Invasive Species”
Released: September 14, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
They've been busy, given their release "Dis-topian Nightmare" came out in March (see my earlier review) and they have announced a new full length before the end of the year (you can already get the single "Addiction Industry"). If you like fast D-beat, growling vocals, and 80's hardcore you are going to want to check them out. I'm lucky in that they are semi-local and I've already had a chance to catch them live twice this year (the first time with The Dayglow Abortions, and more recently with The Reckless Upstarts). Bonus that all of the songs are under 2 minutes, most closer to 1. You can blast through this in under 10 minutes, and it's worth the time.
Cross Dog “All Hard Feelings”
Released: June 7, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Stomp Records
From: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
A lot heavier than I expected from the cover, these are female vocals that are yelled and with just the right amount of profanity. I would classify this as hardcore, maybe this is more the new style of hardcore (I know that there are a whole slew of bands getting mainstream play, but I'm still stuck on my 1980's style hardcore that you would find in a small local bar). The first song "Hard Feelinngs" isn't fast, but it builds and kept me interested. According to the bio there is no guitar (only vocals, drums, bass, and sound effects), I probably wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't read that. I personally prefer shorter songs, and sound effects (electronic instruments) kept to a minimum, but this was a little better than usual. I only review records that I like, and after hearing this I couldn't help but to give it a thumbs up (I just really wished it wasn't a full 30 minutes+, and maybe a little more speed at least in small doses). "Kill This" was my favorite from this one.
The Koffin Kats “Higher Lows”
Released: 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Koffin Kats Records
From: Detroit, Michigan
Check out the recent show review, where The Koffin Kats had their annual Thanksgiving bash at The Token Lounge dressed like characters from Masters of the Universe. They are a local band, but just got back from a European Tour and are about to do two more tours in early 2025. I don't usually listen to Psychobilly, but The Koffin Kats are just too good not to. A three piece band with a stand-up bass, tattoos and punk/rockabilly hair styles, rockabilly vocals, and an amazing live show. These guys are in it for life. This is a great release, they don't forget that Psychobilly is at least one part punk. The first two songs "Happy Hour" and "Higher Lows" were my speed, but in the end I liked "Way Out There" the best. Not coincidentally, they also have a great video for that song that you can check out YouTube. Fans of The Necromantix, Reverend Horton Heat, or the psychobilly sound will love these guys. You will love them even more if you catch them out on tour. I'm a fan.
Raincheck “Higbro Lowbro”
Released: October 15, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, cassette, digital download
Label: Engineer Records, Dispear Records, Cat's Claw Records
From: Lyon, France
This is punk rock from France. I'm not sure what they mean by "Highbrow is someone who looks at a sausage and thinks of Picasso". I'm going to have to ponder that for a while, but the song "Hard FM" rips. This is a solid release, and towards the end you get another pair of rippers "Best Wishes" and Ain't Shot The Sheriff". If you really persevere, the end ties back to the beginning with the static laden FM stereo dial spin but then, just when you least expect it, a hidden killer punk rock version of the 70's hit (disco) song "Born To Be Alive". When I was researching the song, I noticed that it was also covered by The Necromantix and Amyl & The Sniffers so I'll also be checking those out later (however, I seriously doubt that they will rival Raincheck's version).
Conservative Military Image EP
Released: 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Chicago, IL
At their last show, they gave me a sticker that said "Every Striped Earned" and I was trying to tie it back to one of their releases. No luck, but now I know. They just released a three song teaser, that is a preview of an album coming out before the end of the year. And this is on top of the EP from earlier this year, "No Squares In Our Circle", that is already one of the best records of the year. As always, these songs have that CMI sound that fans (like me) love. They sound as angry as ever, screaming "I am hostile!" in "Stab, Shovel, Chew". My favorite on this one was "Every Striped Earned" although I'll admit I wish it was just a bit shorter than the 3:16 (the other two songs are perfect at 1:56 and 1:25). Another great release from CMI, they are continuing to move up on the list of best releases of the year.
Smacked “On Your Expense”
Released: March 1, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Slovenia
Top tracks for me were "Fool Fighters" and "On Your Expense!". The lyrics to the latter were hilarious and one of the highlights of this release. Top notch recording, well executed, but the speed just isn't there for me (a little too rock versus punk rock). Don't get me wrong, I liked it, I'm just hoping in the future that they add a few short fast punk/hardcore songs. Bonus they are from Slovenia, which is the home of Punk Rock Holiday. I'm surprised that I don't see them on this year's roster, but maybe they will get added later. 2025 may just be the year that I make it out there.
The Lockdowns “Can’t Catch A Break”
Released: December 6, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, Digital download
Label: Mom’s Basement Records
From: Houston, TX
Pop punk with great production and sing-a-long melodies. There is a pro video for "Can't Catch A Break" (the title song), which is a good place to start if you haven't heard them. I was excited to see that most of the songs are at or under 2 minutes. After a few plays, my favorite songs were "Moment of Weakness" and "What's Coming Out Of Me", but "Heartbreak Radio" and "Can't Catch A Break" were super catchy and a close second. Bonus that the minimum price on bandcamp (for the full album) was only $1. I'm a big proponent of paying bands for their work, and $1 is not a lot, but when you listen to two or three albums a day (or more) you just can't buy everything (meaning a lot of bands get forgotten). I'm putting this into my digital library for $1, and if it gets a lot of play I will be back to spend more (a live show, and a T-shirt of the really cool cover art, are possibilities). Fans of Screeching Weasel, The Follow-Ups, The Putz, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Jasons.
V.C.S. “This Is The Line”
Released: June 17, 2024
Format: Digital downlaod
Label: Self-released
From: California
The name stands for Violates Community Standards. Great cover art, metal/ street punk/ hardcore sound, anti-establishment lyrics and just fast and upbeat enough. The first song "Bread and Circus" set the stage, and kept me listening for several complete play throughs. I ended up using all of my free play time on bandcamp, and had to switch to YouTube. There was a great lyric video for "This Is The Line" (the title song), a professional video for "Bread and Circus", and a great live video (at The Doll Hut in 2022) that started with "Attack Dogs" (I didn't get through all of it). In the end, "Bread and Circus" and "Attack Dogs" were my favorites, a very decent release for fans of Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, Stormtroopers of Death, Iron Reagan, Suicidal Tendencies, crossover thrash and/or hardcore with a metal edge.