Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2024, Part Fourteen.
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.
Bad Nerves “Still Nervous”
Released: May 31, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Suburban Records
From: East London, England
Fuzzy garage punk/rock-n-roll with plenty of distortion. This was at the top of the list of 2024 releases for some of my speed rock friends, so I'm going to give it a lot of play (those guys really know their music). Anything other than really fast, straight up punk rock takes longer to grow on me, but once it does it can be fantastic... this one falls in into that category. After a couple of plays, I'm walking around the house humming "Fuck being in California". "Don't Stop", "You've Got The Nerve" and "You Should Know By Now" were my favorites and all made their way into my permanent collection. Fans of The Ravagers, Teen Mortgage, Lords of Altamont, Guitar Wolf or top tier distorted garage rock-n-roll. Fingers crossed for a Punk Rock Bowling club show, keep watch for this in my upcoming top releases of the year.
The Turbo A.C.’s “This Is What You Wanted (Now You’re Dead)”
Released: December 13, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: New York, New York
The Turbo A.C.'s (the name is a reference from the 1979 movie "Warriors") have been around since 1995, I've seen them a few times, and they are solid. I've always put them into the same category as The Supersuckers, The Oblivions, The New Bomb Turks, The Dirtys, The Hellacopters and Nashville Pussy (more of a dirty punk rock-n-roll sound). I hadn't even thought about them for a few years when this popped up, and I'm glad it did. The guitars and vocals sound great, the song name / lyrics and album artwork are amazing. I feel like it could be better if it were faster and screamed with a bit more rage (like some of their older stuff), but that’s just me. If you are into the aforementioned list of bands (or their older catalog) you should like this a lot. I'm looking forward to hearing more, this is just a single song so hopefully that means an upcoming new album.
Dirtnap “Four Finger Discount”
Released: August 16, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Victoria, British Columbia
Punk/ska/hardcore with no filter, morbid cover art and soundbytes, and more screaming than singing. Song titles like "Smoke Meth Kill Cops" and "Kentucky Fried Children". I liked it immediately, especially "Billy". At some points this is hardcore, but the ska is there and at points they have that crack rock steady sound (No Cash, Leftover Crack, Escape From The Zoo). It's nearing the end of the year, and I'm already starting a top 50 list for the year which is taking a lot of my time, but I had to sneak this one in. "Smoke Meth Kill Cops" is great and is definitely going into my permanent collection. Apparently that one is a cover of a song by Copsickle, which I also checked out and they are fantastic (but the soundbytes from The Joker that Dirtnap added really work, making their version stand out). Same with the other cover of a MUNG song, it's great and so is the original. This is another release that has no minimum to download from bandcamp, so while you should give them a few bucks (if you can) there is no excuse not to at least grab this for free. They will be touring Canada in the Spring with Dayglo Abortions, so you should definitely look for a live show (I know that I will).
Slutbomb “Attentater”
More extreme hardcore, this time from Ohio (not too far from me) and female vocals. It looks like they have been around since 2017 and have quite a few releases. In 2024, they also released a "Splits and singles 2018 - 2021" collection that I plan to check out... but this 8 song "tour tape" was enough to draw me in. It starts out with the frenzied "Vortex" and blazes through 8 songs with the shortest being just :45 and :10. In the end I liked "Alien Vs. Predator", "Commodified Identity". It looks like this was a live session recorded 9/11/2024 at a show in Philadelphia but you wouldn't know it. Bonus there is no minimum price for the digital download on bandcamp, so while I plead with you to give them something if you can - there is no excuse not to at least add this to your collection for free. Fans of Anklebiter, No Plan, G.L.O.S.S., Bad Egg and crazy extreme hardcore in general will want to check this out. "More people are going to die, and more rights will be ripped away. No politicians on either side give a fuck what we have to say."
Assostert Sjorlmord EP
Released: July 12, 2024
Format: 7” Vinyl, digital download
Label: Static Shock Records
From: Oslo, Norway
I love hardcore from Oslo, they just do it like nowhere else in the world. Assistert Sjolmord (translates to "assisted suicide") is straight up hardcore with minute long songs, screamed with a frenzied energy that is undeniable. This is a 7 song 7" vinyl that can be spun in just over 8 minutes, and you will be glad that you did. Normally I pick one or two songs from a bandcamp page to buy and add to my collection, but this is the rare case where I just bought the entire release. They had a demo in 2021 that I also plan to check out. Fans of bands like Anklebiter, No Plan, Speed Plans, Necron 9, AG-3 and Bad Beat will pick up on this right away. Crazy fast and crazy good, the cover says it all.
Vice Squad “It’s Too Late To Be Normal”
Released: November 22, 2024
Format: CDEP, digital downlaod
Label: Last Rockers Records
From: London, U.K.
Yes this is the same Vice Squad that released "No Cause For Concern" on Riot City Records back in 1981. Becki Bondage is still on vocals (61 years young). Their song "Last Rockers" was a huge influence on my early punk rock listening, as the first song on the "Punk And Disorderly" compilation (one of the first records that I ever owned). I'll admit that some of the allure is nostalgia, but I really liked this. Not the usual hardcore or street punk that I listen to these days, but this does sound like Vice Squad and that is a good thing. This is four tracks, two new studio songs (including "Love You More", the band's tribute to Pete Shelly) and two live tracks from back in 1981. Their website doesn't list any shows (and specifically says that they are no longer able to play live - it looks like it's a financial issue not a health issue), but this gives me hope!
S.H.I.T. “For A Better World”
Released: October 18, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Iron Lung Records
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
If you remember my reviews from last year, I reviewed their 4-song demo ("Demo 2023") which was one of my top extreme hardcore releases of the year. Well here they are doing it again, and this time they officially have a "catchy" song in there, that made my best of 2024 playlist ("KTF", which after a few listens turns out to stand for "Kill The Fuckers"). This entire 7-song EP is great, from start to end. It absolutely rages, and makes me want to drive out to Ontario Canada and jump into one of their mosh pits. I wasn't able to download it song by song on Bandcamp, but I did also find it on Apple iTunes. Fingers crossed they keep the releases coming, and maybe even play in Detroit some day. Fans of Necron 9, Lumpen, Assistert Sjolmord, and crazy extreme hardcore will want to check this out right away. Kill the fuckers, kill them all!
Drug Church “Prude”
Released: October 4, 2024
Format: LP, CD, digital download
Label: Pure Noise Records
From: Albany, New York
This release caught my eye because Drug Church were part of one of the best shows I have been to in the past couple of years (The Bronx, The Chats and Drug Church in Detroit at El Club). They have a couple of really great pro videos for "Demolition Man" and "Slide 2 Me" from this album. There is also a documentary on the making of the album (about 30 minutes long, I didn't get through the entire thing but it was good from what I did watch). I started by watching the videos and part of the documentary, then played the album through a couple of times. This is their 5th album, but other than the live show this is the first time that I have sat down and really gave them a listen. Ironically, the singer has a tattoo across his chest that says "Do It Faster", and all I could think throughout both the videos and the album itself was how good it would be if it was only faster (of course that's just me, not everyone is always wanting speed). In the end, I liked this as a whole enough to include it in my top releases of the year, but no songs really stood out as contenders for the best songs of the year. I feel like I would like this more after even more listens, so it's on my short list to come back to. Fans of post-hardcore and alternative rock would be more interested, than die-hard punk rockers and speed rock fans (like myself). But catching them live would always be worthwhile, and again I liked it enough to do the review.
AG-3 “Demo”
Released: December 6, 2024
Format: Cassette, digital download
Label: Brainrotter Records
From: Oslo, Norway
This demo cassette from AG-3 is serious hardcore from Oslo, Norway. A young band with screaming female vocals, and they absolute tear it up. Apparently this is a limited edition cassette (30 copies) so if you are into physical media you better hurry. A couple of songs under 30 seconds, and nothing over a minute and a half (other than the very last song). Self described as "fast, raw, noisy, and aggressive", and I cannot argue with that. This brings me back to the early days of punk rock, this could have easily produced a song for the "P.E.A.C.E." or "Welcome To 1984" LP. Fans of Terveet Kadet, Raw Power, Rattus, G.I.S.M., B.G.K. (or more recently Speed Plans, Direct Threat, Success, Necron 9, Assistert Sjolmord) will want to check this out.
Rovsvett “Starkare Kaffe”
Released: December 20, 2024
Format: 7” vinyl, digital download
Label: Sockiplast Records
From: Ängelholm, Sweden
Another blast from the past! Earlier this year I reviewed releases from Conflict and Mob 47, both bands that I listened to when I was first getting into hardcore decades ago. And now, a new release from Rovsvett as well (their first release on discogs shows as 1984, 40 years ago). The cover art makes this look like a Christmas release, but of course all of the lyrics and info are in Swedish. I did translate the title, and it came back "Stronger coffee for Christmas". Only three tracks but this rips, and these guys must be pushing 60 (like myself). I ended up putting "Tjuvarnas Kung" (translates to "King of Theives") on my playlist, but all three songs are solid. The deep throated growls, metallic guitars, breakdowns and pounding drums were way before their time. I'd say that these guys were pioneers of modern hardcore and for this reason they have earned a listen. After that, if you are like me an always looking for new punk rock music, head over to the bandcamp for their label Sockiplast Records. They have a whole slew of 2024 releases from bands that I have never heard of, but want to (I assume mostly or all from Sweden). A quick listen revealed that it's not all D-beat hardcore, for example Beckmorkt was one of the first that I chose and they had a skate punk sound. I was not able to find this release on YouTube, so I’ll leave you with a video of one of Rovsvett’s early releases.
Taker “Taker EP”
Released: December 11, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Buffalo, NY
These guys are from Buffalo, New York and this is brand new. It looks they are self-described as oi! music, which is apparent in "Alias" and "We Don't Call" by the sporadic use of "Oi! Oi!". When done right, I really like that sub-genre, and they do it right on those two songs. The other two songs are a little to0 slow for me, but decent as well. This is another one that appears to be digital download only, and I didn't see any other releases (this one is available on bandcamp, spotify, and Apple music). Fans of Reckless Upstarts, No Guard, CMI, Yellow Stitches, Lion's Law.
Caught Dead “Caught Dead”
Released: December 19, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Dayton, OH
7-song release which may be a digital download exclusive (nothing on discogs), and has no minimum price on bandcamp (download it for free if you must). This is hardcore/crust/peace punk from Dayton, Ohio very near my home base of Detroit. Screamed female vocals, blistering fast drums, short songs (only one breaks two minutes and the shortest is 00:39), great bass lines and an unmistakable hardcore punk sound (with maybe a slight metal influence). For perspective, the majority of releases that I try out, I don't even get through half of the songs and I move on. I'm already through multiple full listens to this one, and it keeps getting better. Apparently there are more than one band with the same name, so it was tricky finding video on YouTube (I found one live show and nothing else). They are playing the Rustbelt Ripperfest in 2025 (Cleveland, Ohio) with some of my other favorites this year (The Sissy Boys, Speed Plans, Bad Egg, Slutbomb) so maybe there is a chance I'll get to check them out live. Fans of any of the bands I just named, Nutt, Anklebiter, or really great female-fronted hardcore, will be interested. It was hard to pick favorite songs, but "Break Free" and "Your War" were stand-outs.
Phane “Maniac”
Released: May 15, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Phobia Records
From: Vancouver, British Columbia
Slither “Slither”
Released: December 14, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Another crazy fast hardcore frenzy of sound. I liked it right away, but wasn't sure how it would pan out. I ended up getting through it, and then it struck me that this was a cut above the rest. I listened again, and also noticed I could download it for free. I just started a new playlist with Caught Dead, Planet on a Chain and Taker (from previous reviews) so I downloaded this and played it again. Somehow I'm on my 5th or 6th listen now, and planning to start it again. I could not find a single thing about this band outside of bandcamp (nothing on Facebook, Instagram, Discogs, YouTube, etc.), although apparently there is a horror movie and another band with the same name. All I know is that they have a female singer, they are from Minneapolis, this is their debut, and they play some serious hardcore. In the end, I added "Trauma Starter", "Thirst For Blood" and "Annie" to my playlist. Looking forward to move from these guys (and gals).
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, Part Thirteen.