Punk | Hardcore 289 Items

Massachusetts hardcore band Defeater have announced their new self-titled album. Defeater will be released May 10 on Epitaph. This is Defeater's fifth full-length release and their first in 4 years. The first new single, "Mothers' Sons" features blistering guitars that take the song into something chaotic and beautiful. Defeater was produced with Will Yip (Quicksand, La Dispute, Blacklisted, Ms. Lauryn Hill) whose enthusiasm and talent pushed the songs to their fullest potential. Defeater showcases the band at their most devastating and sonically arresting to date. It is as pummeling as it is atmospheric. Yet it's been a long journey to where the band is now. Years of touring took their toll on the friends that make up the current lineup of Derek Archambault (vocals), Jake Woodruff (guitar), Adam Crowe (guitar), Mike Poulin (bass) and Joe Longobardi (drums). Health, substance abuse issues, and ejecting a longtime member had made a touring hiatus necessary. After a few months at home, working and decompressing, the fire to write a new record caught everyone in a major way. The result of time off and the band's renewed energy, Defeater has created their most organic batch of songs yet. And in Defeater fashion, the instrumentation is complimented by a narrative approach. Archambault explores his own "Glass family" (an homage to the J.D. Salinger characters) from new perspectives.

At first glance, 3 seems like a perfectly fitting title for a new nots album. After all, it is the Memphis band’s third full-length (two released by Heavenly) and their first as a trio. Makes sense. But after you begin to peel back the layers of 3—unearthing every writhing guitar squall and every piercing vocal melody—the spirit of the record comes into much clearer focus.

Originally known as the singer, songwriter, and founder of both LAGWAGON and BAD ASTRONAUT, JOEY CAPE has established himself as a recognized solo artist over the past 13 years. His solo ventures have allowed him to stretch the bounds of his musical stylings, highlighting more diverse instrumentation, subdued pace, and experimental elements. The one constant, of course, is his unique ability to craft unforgettable songs. Joey doesn’t want to call it an epiphany, but in recent years he’s come to a realization about life—specifically, the best way to live it. It’s a simple philosophy: even though we’re living in very troubled times, it’s important to not get bogged down by it all. As he incorporates that mindset into his day-to-day life, it naturally gets absorbed into his music, and serves as the crux of Joey's new solo album Let Me Know When You Give Up.

To coincide (almost) with their appearance at Rebellion Festival in Blackpool (doing electric and acoustic sets!), and their live-to-air session on Marc Riley's 6Music show we're releasing fan's favourite 'Hey Belinda!' as a single. 'Hey Belinda!' is taken from the band's most recent album Lurrigate Your Mind. The B-side 'Hiawatha' is a brand-new reworking of a total MOPED classic, a song that originally appeared on the Search For Xerxes album, penned by Slimy Toad and original band members Fred and Dave Berk. We think you'll love it! On red vinyl and housed in a Reservoir Dogs spoofing sleeve. What's not to like Tomcats!?!

"Too much so-called psych-punk or acid-punk or whatever boils down sonically to some efx added to a familiar punk/rock format. I’m sorry, but that doesn’t qualify to my ears. On the other hand, this SLUMP band from Richmond, Virginia, ranks high. Very high. (And so am I.) They’ve been around for about four years now, with the current lineup of WILL FENNESSEY (bass), TONY NOWOTARSKI (Moog/guitar), NICK YETKA (drums), and SUSPICIOUS SONNY (vocals/guitar). They self-released a single in 2016 that kinda reminds me of the NYC HC band Kaleidoscope, except there are prominent electronics. They also released an excellent split EP (with True Body) that found them expanding the songs into longer chunks that allow for more freedom to move.


And that brings us to their debut LP. Slump has retained the hardcore and sludge, but it would be hard to convince some people that this is punk-rock at all. (It is! And it isn’t!) Let’s mention Hawkwind. The UK space-rock group has become a template for riff-heavy acid-eaters over the past 40 years, and Slump is certainly in that line. It all opens with a riff that resembles the MC5’s “Black to Comm” and quickly descends/ascends into the dirty sky above beneath inside outside us all. Don’t expect an easy ride—this is gonna be a bumpy but very worthwhile trip. “No Utopia”? There’s a sane slogan for modern America. Whatever explicit message (?) may lie here is buried in volume and psychedelic mud. The hardcore urge beats the messenger to death again. I think that’s a good thing myself. Evolve, baby—evolve! Things ROCK on “(Do the) Sonic Sprawl”—conjures up visions of Philip K. Dick and 1980s Sonic Youth and some sorta (r)evolution (no Utopia!). “Throbbing Reverberation” is the shortest track and another rockin’ jam. The title gives a strong clue. Forward-thinking metal fans should dig this. Imagine Voivod with a LOT of noise in the mix.

Recorded live in Portshmouth in 1986 during the 'A Date With Elvis Tour' - one incendiary show with the Stingrays, one side each.
A must have for any psychobilly freak out there. Limited to 500 copies.

Fred Schneider & the Superions get spooky for Halloween with a seasonal 7" single "Bat Baby" on limited color vinyl. Only 750 copies pressed and sure to sell out in no time flat. Fred Schneider is also one of the vocalists in the band the B-52's. Enjoy this camp holiday season treat and get the dance floor pumpin' at your Halloween party. BOO Y'ALL.

Following up their incredible Pirates debut in the springtime, these badass Philly ladies are coming at ya with three more!! This is the second of three planned 7” releases, with a lot more in the ol’ purse yet to come. Whether it‘s playing for kids in a group of library, herds of families at a backyard barbecue, or being the soundtrack to drunken mayhem at a late night bar show, these girls know how to rock! This stuff is primed and ready for anyone with a soft spot for the Ramones, and an appreciation for wit. Lace up your chucks, break out your leather, and drop this one down on the ol’ turntable!