The Mark Vodka Group - Shadow Of Your Former Self

  It's been 18 months since I posted a wonderful Buzzcocks inspired track by The Mark Vodka Group (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-mark-vodka-group-everybodys-punk-now.html) and predicted that their debut album would be worth watching out for. Not much of a prediction to be honest as it was always going to be a great album and at last it's here.

  From Nova Scotia and featuring members of the Booji Boys, The Mark Vodka Group should be your new favourite band, they're that good. Equally good are Drunken Sailor Records who have released the album. Head honcho Juice has a pretty damn awesome taste in music and when he gives a band his seal of approval you pay attention.

  There's 14 tracks on the album and they're catchy as fuck, off kilter masterpieces. This is proper pop music and not the crappy soulless stuff they force feed us on the radio. They might be a little lo-fi, they may be a little spiky, they'll certainly be a little bit 'faster and louder' but they're pop songs nonetheless. It's a definite companion piece to the Dark Thoughts album that came out a couple of months back (a little more Buzzcocks or even maybe Only Ones influenced than Ramones but the same infectious scuffed up pop attitude is present). File under "would have been massive back in '78."

  You can get the album on vinyl (black or gold) or digital :   https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/st-lp-12

  There'll be another winner from Drunken Sailor tomorrow.

  This song is just one of many highlights (though it's not the song they've chose to put out a video for, that one is here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry-UrnZl7hk),  it whizzes by with barely a pause for breath and it's called Shadow Of Your Former Self...

Modern Needs - Can't Be Bothered

  Got to admit, I've not had the pleasure of hearing Modern Needs before but they've been releasing music since 2013 and I'm currently working my way through their back catalogue and wishing I'd arrived earlier to the party.

  I say they've been releasing music but maybe I should have said he's been releasing music? The 'he' in question being Vinnie Vacuum who's the ever present, holding things together backed by "whoever he's playing with at the moment." Current home is listed as San Francisco and all the music, including the rather fab new album is available here : https://modernneeds.bandcamp.com/

  The new album is called Survey Of The Animal Kingdom. It's the first new material in 3 years and it's trashy punk goodness. Think DD Owen or Erik Nervous, think KBD or Dangerhouse Records. It's timeless and cool and very good. There's a very limited number of cassettes (50) on the first pressing or you can get it digitally via the Bandcamp link.

  It's described as music that's perfect for throwing rocks at cops and killing people you hate. This is an album highlight, I was going to give you an in depth write up on it but honestly, I just Can't Be Bothered...

Elvis Presley Hound Dogs - Rock'n'Roll Tonight

   Old school pop punk alert!

  Elvis Presley Hound Dogs (https://www.facebook.com/elvispresleyhounddogs/) are from Oberhausen, Germany, and sound like they've just been transported through some kind of time portal from the 90's. They're a band that would have fit right in on the likes of Mutant Pop, Lookout, Panic Button or Clearview Records. They write snappy sub 2 minute songs about the usual pop punk stuff; girls, zombies, Saturday nights, and California and unsurprisingly they list amongst their influences the likes of Ramones, Chixdiggit, TBR, Groovie Ghoulies, Queers etc...

  Not only do they have an eye catching name, they also have a talent for writing catchy tunes that make them stand out in a crowded field. They definitely aren't reinventing the wheel, they aren't earning bonus points for originality but who cares. They're fast, loud and fun and deserving of your attention. They've just released their debut, Self Titled, album and you can get it on cd here :     https://monsterzerorecords.com/products/elvis-presley-hound-dogs-s-t-cd?

  Digitally it's here : https://elvispresleyhounddogs.bandcamp.com/album/elvis-presley-hound-dogs

  I first heard this song a couple of years ago on one of the cool Ramone To The Bone comps but it's resurfaced on the album and it's a great introduction to the band, it's titled Rock'n'Roll Tonight...

Bamboo Vipers - Spacewaster

  Hopefully you all know Bamboo Vipers (https://www.facebook.com/BambooVipers/) by now, they've featured on here regularly and as frontman Shaun Morris is kind enough to send me their new releases often months before release they often end up as exclusive first plays on the show. They're a great band and you never quite know what you're going to get from them. Their last JSPS appearance was with a cool spy themed song (and equally cool video) about the diminutive Inch High Private Eye, this time around they return with something out of this world.

   Described as a stomping 2020 odyssey, the song at the bottom of this update also features a video shot out amongst the stars. "Beam me up Scotty" Shaun sings as a very talented bunch of musicians offer up a varied musical soundscape. It's alt rock inspired by elements of punk, glam and even big band era instrumentation. They're definitely one of the UK's most interesting bands and I'd love to hear what they could do on an album.

  The new ep is titled The Dawn Of Civilisation, it's 4 tracks and it's available via Santebal Records. It comes highly recommended. This track is titled Spacewaster...

Tokyo Lungs - I'm Weak

  James Domestic-Scott's been in a few cracking bands. As well as The Domestics, I think I've also featured PI$$ER and Bring The Drones but there's several others. He's back again in a new band called Tokyo Lungs (https://www.facebook.com/Tokyo-Lungs-108694277381536/) and he's joined by fellow Domestic, Simon, who's also in Casual Nausea and another new band called MASSAKREE (Their debut ep Happy Static Pogo Nightmare Noise is also great   https://amokrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/massakree-happy-static-pogo-nightmare-noise-ep).

  They've just sent for pressing a 9 song 7" which will be out in a couple of months on Kibou Records (UK) and Amok Records (Germany) and there's 3 preview tracks streaming on Bandcamp : https://kibourecords.bandcamp.com/album/tokyo-lungs-7-preview-tracks-only  All 3 available tracks hit hard, all are brief blitzkriegs of pummelling noise but as with The Domestics there's tunes kicking and screaming their way through that wall of sound.

  This song is about being easily led and it's titled I'm Weak...

LIFE SHOULD BE SO EASY, BUT IT NEVER IS
LIVING IN A NEVERENDING FUCKED UP QUIZ
I NEVER KNOW THE ANSWERS, BUT I KNOW I SHOULD
I GUESS I’M NO GOOD

WELL I FUCKED UP AGAIN, I CAN’T GET ON MY FEET
‘COS I’M WEAK
I’M WEAK
EVERY TIME I TRY IT ONLY ENDS UP IN DEFEAT
‘COS I’M WEAK
WELL I’M WEAK
I’M WEAK [X2]

MY HEAD IS SPINNING, ONCE AGAIN I’M CAUGHT
IN SOME SITUATION THAT IS ALL MY FAULT
ANOTHER DRINK? ANOTHER LINE? SOME MORE ROPE?
I GUESS I’M A JOKE

I’M LIKE A MAGPIE, HEAD TURNED BY SOME SHINY THING
‘COS I’M WEAK
I’M WEAK
TO MY CHAGRIN MY RESOLVE SPRUNG ANOTHER LEAK
‘COS I’M WEAK
WELL I’M WEAK

Sprints - Kissing Practice

  This week's Just Some Punk Songs show went down very well with those that were in the chatroom with the 2 most popular songs being by Coriky (the latest band to feature Minor Threat/Fugazi's Ian MacKaye) and a fresh faced young band based in Dublin called Sprints. It's the latter of those that I'm featuring today...

  Sprints (https://www.facebook.com/sprintsmusic/) are an alt rock/post punk 4 piece that look to have been together for around a year and have recently released their third single (the first 2 were Pathetic and The Cheek). They line up with KC (Vocals, Guitar), Colm (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Sam (Bass, Vocals) and Jack (Drums). In my humble opinion, each of the singles has improved on the previous one so whilst the latest is a delight, hopes are extremely high for future releases (they're hoping to release a couple more singles this year). Whilst not being your archetypal punk rock band, they're exactly the sort of new blood the scene needs if it's to stay relevant into the 20's. You can check out all 3 singles here : https://sprintsmusic.bandcamp.com/

  This is a fast paced and very catchy song about the mundanity and monotany of everyday life. It's about getting stuck in a rut and it's called Kissing Practice...

Kool & the Gang Bangers - Hang Up The Phone

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Grim Deeds - Glenn The Heavy Metal Custodian

  You probably know Grim Deeds' modus operandi by now. He records songs pretty much as and when he comes up with them. Often he records in his car or other unlikely places, mostly they're solo recordings though occasionally he'll draft in friends to contribute (such as Kody Templeman or Eddie Kobane). Then he shares them on his Bandcamp page https://grimdeeds.bandcamp.com/music

  Then, every once in a while, he'll pick a bunch of the best ones, re record them and release them on an album. One such album was 2017's Only The Beast collection (https://grimdeeds.bandcamp.com/album/only-the-beast). 13 of the best songs selected from his first 8 albums and properly recorded by Cederick Forsberg at Studio 2 Takt in Sandviken, Sweden. A talented musician as well as producer, Ced also played all the instruments. It was a quality pop punk delight and was well received enough to have led to a second collaboration...

  Only The Beast Too... another 14 cherry picked tracks from the Grim Deeds archives but this time it's released on vinyl, cd and digital by the excellent Outloud! Records.   https://outloudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/only-the-beast-too Grim's pop punk sensibilities meet Ced's love of heavy metal head on and the result is that we have a great album that'll appeal to fans of Teenage Bottlerocket, Ramones and early NOFX (though, as Grim admits on the album, he can't listen to NOFX nowadays).

  This is possibly my favourite track, it's titled Glenn The Heavy Metal Custodian...

He’s been the school custodian since 1993
But he has been a metalhead since birth
He headbangs while he waxes floors
And throws the devil horns
‘Cause he’s baddest metal janitor on Earth

They call him Glenn
The heavy metal custodian
He’s listening to Slayer in the halls
They call him Glenn
The heavy metal custodian
He’s cleaning up graffiti on the walls

He’s dressed in all black denim
And his hair is shoulder length
The students say he looks like Jesus Christ
But metal is his savior and he plays it loud for strength
‘Cause he’s got 20 more classrooms to clean tonight

They call him Glenn
The heavy metal custodian
He wants to start a pit and thrash around
They call him Glenn
The heavy metal custodian
And he’s the coolest janitor in town

He doesn’t mind the garbage
And he doesn’t mind the mess
As long as he can play some Megadeth real loud
Heavy metal music’s all he needs to clean the school
And make us proud (so sing it loud)

Huntingtons - Too Old To Care

  One of the longest running (and best) pop punk labels out there are still regularly putting out quality music. I'm talking about Monster Zero of course! If I remember rightly I featured 5 of their releases last year (by The Hangups, The Ratcliffs, The Yoohoos, The Hallingtons and Teenage Bubblegums). Since the last of those, they've brought us a Jagger Holly Christmas album, The Dumbheads' Tales Of Terror album (18 great songs about cool stuff like Giant Leeches, Children Of The Corn, Jurassic Park etc...) and their most recent release, the Steven Island EP by Paris band Maladroit ("a tribute to the greatness of Steven Spielberg").

  Oh, and there's also a first album in 17 years by legendary Baltimore Ramones worshippers, Huntingtons...

  Forming in the mid 90's, Muerto, Carcel, O Rocanrol! is their 8th full length. There's been plenty of line up changes down the years but currently they feature original vocalist & bassist Mike Holt and original guitarist & backing vocalist Jonathan "Cliffy" Walker alongside guitarist & backing vocalist Josh Blackway and drummer Chris Eller. The press release reveals the album's title symbolizes the possibilities that exist after 25 years together... Muerto (Dead; they played a "final show in 2005), Carcel (Jail; where they'd have been without expanding their sound and taking risks) and O Rocanrol! (Rock n Roll; where they are now doing what they want, when they want).

  The album is 14 tracks long, it's good value for money with over half of the tracks reaching 3 minutes or longer. It's not a new band banging out a dozen sub 2 minute songs at warp speed, it's the sound of a band that's been around the block and who have taken the time to craft something a little more substantial. It's more Too Tough To Die than Leave Home. Don't take that to mean it doesn't hit fast and hard though, it's still the Huntingtons that we remember.

 You can get the vinyl version of the album here :   https://monsterzerorecords.com/products/huntingtons-muerto-carcel-o-rocanrol-lp
and digital version here : https://monsterzerorecords.bandcamp.com/album/muerto-carcel-o-rocanrol

  This is the opening song, it's about having seen it all before and being in a place where you're content with things and don't sweat the small stuff. It's called Too Old To Care...

Ned O'Millick Cooperative - Sunce

  Ned O'Millick (Nenad Milić) is from Karlovac in Croatia but is currently living and working in Munich. He's gathered around him a loose collection of talented musicians under the umbrella name Ned Millick Cooperative (https://www.facebook.com/nedomillickcooperative/) and recently released an album titled Solidarity. In total, 32 people guested on the album and the songs were recorded all over the world. Influences are disparate and include Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Joe Strummer, Tom Waits, The Pogues, Newtown Neurotics, The Cramps, Frank Zappa and many more. It's a very varied album and I can definitely see why Barry Phillips (who's one of those guests and who wrote the book In Search Of Tito's Punks) compared it with the Clash's Sandinista.

  There's 10 tracks on the album, 7 originals are complimented by a Woody Guthrie cover, a song originally recorded by Croatian singer Dario Garbin and Italian protest song Bella Ciao. It's a definite change of pace from the usual fare you find on this blog but as welcome one. It's good to feature something different every once in a while and Solidarity is a very good album.
https://nedomillickcooperative.bandcamp.com/releases

  The song I'm posting today is the closing track. It's titled Sunce (Sun) and in places it reminds me of Slap! era Chumbawamba. If you fancy something a little different, than this will brighten up your day...

GARBITCH - Kill All Abusers

  Here's an update featuring a band I know pretty much nothing about other than that they're a queercore punk band from California who have a Self Titled (debut?) ep up on Bandcamp. Info is so scarce there's not even a date of release though I'm guessing it's new.  You can find it here :     https://garbitch.bandcamp.com/album/garbitch-self-titled

  There's 5 tracks on the ep, track 1 invites us to laugh in the faces of crying white supremacists as the stars and stripes burns. Track 3 is a call to shoot the kkkop in side your head. Track 4 deals with society's lack of empathy when it comes to mental disorder and track 5 screams "GENDER QUEER ANGER IS JUSTIFIED ANGER!" The lyrics pour vituperative bile over a soundscape that's often sludgy and always heavy. You can taste the enmity.

  And as for track 2. It's a final solution to sexual abuse. It's called Kill All Abusers...

I'm getting sick and tired of your sympathizing shit
"My homie wouldn't do this, my homie wouldn't do that"
I'm getting sick and tired of these damn apologists
Fuck these complacent ass mother fuckers
Fuck all abusers and fuck their friends
Fuck all abusers we'll choke em til they're dead
Fuck all abusers and fuck their friends
Fuck all abusers we'll shoot em in the head

Your sympathy is complacency in misogyny and white supremacy

"oH mY hOmIeS n0t lIK3 ThAt, oH mY hOmIeS sO chILL, Where's your proof bitch? You attention seeking bitch!"

Fuck all abusers and fuck their friends
Fuck all abusers we'll choke em till they're dead
Fuck all abusers and fuck their friends
Fuck all abusers we'll shoot em the head
Fuck all abusers and fuck their friends
Fuck all abusers we'll choke em till they're dead
Fuck all abusers and fuck their friends
Fuck all abusers we'll shoot em the fucking head

Cold Meat - ZZ Top Hat

 

    "BORING MUSIC FOR BORING PEOPLE
      SILLY MUSIC FOR SILLY PEOPLE"

  Last year I was wondering aloud which was the best record label of 2019 and I came up with a couple of prime candidates... Slovenly Recordings and Drunken Sailor. No doubt both will be contenders this year but an early candidate for that accolade must be London label Static Shock Records. Not only did they start 2020 with a bang by releasing the debut album by Chubby And The Gang, they're following it up on 20th March with another debut, this time by one of my favourite bands, Cold Meat. It'll be titled Hot And Flustered and a couple of tracks are streaming now. There'll be 150 copies available in red vinyl and you can pre order (and listen to the 2 tracks) here :    https://staticshockrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hot-and-flustered

  I posted info about them on here when I featured their excellent song Lazy Anarchy  (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/07/cold-meat-lazy-anarchy.html) so I won't repeat myself now, instead I'll just advise you to check the band out if you haven't yet done so. Think Siouxsie Sioux, think Exene Cervenka, think UBIK, Good Throb and Sniffany & The Nits. Think bratty Aussie punk... Enjoy top vocalist Ashley Ack on top form yelping about her hatred of Houston's favourite bearded rockers. Enjoy a taste of what will surely be a brilliant debut album.

  This is ZZ Top Hat...

Dirty Cheetah - Addicted

  This one's for all the punk rock junkies out there that visit the Just Some Punk Songs blog for their daily fix of new punk rock music...

  If you're one of those cool junkies, you may remember many great songs featured previously on here on cool labels No Front Teeth (The Stiffies, DefektDefekt, Miscalculations... ) and Resurrection Records (Phone Jerks, The Manikins, Pale Lips...). The UK and US labels are joint releasing a highly anticipated new album from Montreal band Dirty Cheetah (https://www.facebook.com/DirtyCheetah/). The band line up with Pat Panic (Guitar/Lead Vocal), Dirty Frank (Guitar/Vocals), Don Lucas (Bass/Vocals) and Lynda Kicks (Drums); cool rock n roll names for a cool rock n roll band. They featured on here  a couple of years ago with their debut single I Need It  (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/03/dirty-cheetah-i-need-it.html) and they followed it up with the equally impressive Losing My Mind ep. 18 months on from that, their debut album is imminent, it'll be titled Never Too Late and the evidence presented by their new single suggests it'll be very good indeed. You can find out more details (and grab the single as a name your price download) here :   https://dirtycheetah.bandcamp.com/track/addicted-2

    Swagger and sleaze, a catchy tune about obsession. Not all junkies need drugs (or punk rock!), sometimes that burning desire is concentrated elsewhere. This is Addicted...

Deathtraps - Let's Fall Out Of Love

  A couple of years ago I featured a song by Newport 3 piece Deathtraps (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/02/deathtraps-are-we-having-fun.html). If you look in the Collins English Dictionary, under Rock and Roll, it says "Rock and roll is a kind of popular music developed in the 1950s which has a strong beat and is played on electrical instruments." It also says "...Elvis Presley–the King of Rock and Roll. ... Deathtraps-the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world."  The online version of the dictionary omits the odd word for brevity's sake but trust me about the full quote being in the hardback edition!

  Anyway, as dictionaries are always accurate you'll understand why I was thrilled to be sent their new album a couple of weeks before it's release. It's titled Stole Your Rock n Roll and even if you've not been fortunate enough to have heard the band yet, you'll pretty much know what they sound like. They sound like mutherfuckin' rock n roll. Really, really, bloody good mutherfuckin' rock n roll. One of the highlights on the album is called Joan Jett ("Leather jacket and a Gibson guitar, little Joanie she's my superstar...") and the chorus has singer Veej chanting "she is so rock n roll." On another highlight he bemoans the fact that many of the songs he writes are great but no one cares, they just want to hear the one off the radio. Too Fast To Last reminds me of The Dwarves; Cool Kids has plenty of down and dirty riffing with chants of fuck the cool kids...kill the cool kids; Bad Things is a  pedal to the metal exercise in schadenfreude and I was going to say Backstabbing For Beginners is a catchy singalong but to be honest that could describe the whole album. It's out on March 6th and you can pre order it on vinyl or cd here : https://deathtrapstheband.bigcartel.com/

  Digital will no doubt turn up here : https://deathtraps.bandcamp.com/

  So which song to feature? I'll be playing a few on the show in coming weeks (starting with one on tonight's show so tune in at 8pm gmt https://www.facebook.com/events/143389800083647/) but today I might as well go for the one they've made a video for. It's the album opener, it's called Let's Fall Out Of Love...

Guerilla Poubelle - Apocalypse 6:12

(Photo: Guillaume Guérin-photographie)
 

  "Apocalypse of John 6:12"     This is when the Sixth Seal is opened, it’s the last one before the end of the world. While the ecological emergency is more dramatic than ever, the ruling capitalist class is telling us what we can call "stories" or "fictions" about progress, about unlimited growth... individual actions won’t be enough to reverse the trend. We need a new collective narrative, we need a change of paradigm.

  Forming in 2003, Guerilla Poubelle (https://www.facebook.com/gxpgxp/) are a diy punk 3 piece from Paris who've racked up over a thousand shows and who's debut album sold over 20,000 copies. They've recently returned with new album  L'Ennui and it's bloody good so go check it out...
https://www.guerilla-asso.com/products/655740-guerilla-poubelle-lennui

https://guerillapoubelle.bandcamp.com/album/lennui (name your price)

  The album was composed on the road and recorded in Montreal between two concerts. The press release proclaims it as "raw and virulent" and describes how "it slings down neo-liberalism, contempt for class, consumerism, gender stereotypes and other cuttings from this sick society that oppresses us every day a little more." The lyrics may be sung in their native French but help is on hand from Bandcamp as each of the songs contains a explanatory paragraph in English (like the one at the top of this page for today's featured song). As well as quality punk rock tunes we also get to discover that the album deals with Albert Camus writing about how he "deplores the lack of sense in our life, the boredom inherent in these modern times. Useless jobs, immured families and comfortable leisures make us apathetic". There's also a song that draws a parallel between a famous rapper and a corrupt politician and another describing how capitalism feeds our obsession with borders and boundaries to create a climate of fear and distrust. Hell, you get the idea... it's intelligent, political punk that'll make you both move and think.

  This is a video they've based on the 1973 movie The Society Of Spectacle which was itself based on a 1967 book written by Situationist Guy Debord ("The Das Kapital of the 20th century"   https://www.amazon.co.uk/Society-Spectacle-Guy-Debord/dp/0934868077).
  Apocalypse 6:12...

Crisis Actors - Informant

  One of the most energetic, in your face (and indeed best) releases I've had the pleasure to listen to recently is a wonderful split album between Salem, Massachusetts, synth punks Crimps and Boston hardcore punks Crisis Actors (https://www.facebook.com/crisisactorsboston/). Today's update features a song by the latter of those 2 but you should definitely also check out Crimps (https://crisisactorsboston.bandcamp.com/album/split-w-crimps).

  So Crisis Actors... they released a demo in Aug 2018 that was absolutely bloody marvellous (go listen to it if you missed it and see if you can resist screaming along with the Crass inspired chorus of Private Army!). 18 month on, they haven't calmed down. Their 4 tracks on this new split are all manic explosions of frantic noise. There's more fizz than a bottle of coke stuffed with Mentos! Vocalist Jen is a woman possessed whilst Andy (bass), Jesse (guitar) and Chris (drums) pound and bash and strum away like whirling dervishes with St Vitus' Dance!

  You can order the cassette and find the digital version here : https://crisisactorsboston.bandcamp.com/album/split-w-crimps

  Try telling me this isn't going to be one of 2020's best songs, it's called Informant...

Freon - BYE BYE

  Freon are a cool new speed punk band band from St Louis featuring members of  Bad Example, Ruz, The Warden, Dentist and Mom (Jimmy, Rickey, Benny, Benny, Nicky and Gurt). They're all fans of Poison Idea so it'll come as no surprise to hear that their debut 6 track ep is something of a rager. The music's fast and loud whilst the lyrics are raw and emotive ("Rip that parasite out of me And take my innocence with it"... "People dead in rooms alone but you don’t see that from your throne"... "I don’t wanna be me anymore I don’t like me Anymore"). Can you have fun listening to something so down beat? I did, it's a really good debut. The ep's titled PYK, there's 100 copies pressed on computer white cassettes and you can check it out on the 11 PM Records Bandcamp page https://11pmrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pyk

  My favourite track, probably this. It's called BYE BYE...

I don’t wanna be ur baby
Or ur little slut
But I could be
For a quick buck
I’ll be a lady
Your woman too
Just as long as u pay me when we’re thru
Lemme cop
I’ll fuck u hard
Won’t tell ur wife
For a price
Gimme speed
It’s what I need
My body’s yours
For the hour
Are you done I need a shower
Who cares if it hurts you
You got things you need
Make your mind leave ur body
Just to make ends meet
Who cares if it kills you
It was the only way
In a system that failed you
You just gotta get paid

ATTESTOR - Keep It On/Off

  ATTESTOR are a D-Beat punk 3 piece from Brighton who formed at the end of 2019 following the breakup of Watchcries (https://watchcries.bandcamp.com/). A couple of members from that band, bassist Steve Barry and drummer Ant Cole roped in Tadpole Records head honcho Darren Bourne on vocals and with no fucking around they quickly released a 6 track demo. As well as Watchcries, the various members have also been in numerous other bands (Dopefight, TEEF, Unslug, H8Ball, System Defector, War Wolf, MTA, etc...) which I can't recall but after hearing the demo I'm glad I've finally arrived at the party. The music's heavy, it reminds me of The Domestics (there's a chance both bands may be sharing a stage soon) and the lyrics are about the right wing media, greedy landlords, the rise in fascism, mental health etc... Attestor means to bear witness to and it's an apt moniker for a band that are calling out many of society's wrongs. You can snap it up name your price here :   https://attestorpunx.bandcamp.com/releases

  My favourite song so far comes midway through the ep, it's called Keep It On/Off...

Nervous Dogs - Johnny Killed The Punk Scene

   "As you are well aware the Punk scene is now mainly carried along by old C***s like us, but I was delighted to play with these young upstarts back in December. Really reminded me of being that young snotty don't give a fuck punk I was many, many moons ago..." 

  That was the start of a post I saw on the Surgery Without Research Facebook page and it intrigued me enough to make me want to check out those young upstarts. I'm glad I did. Hopefully you will too.

  Nervous Dogs (https://www.facebook.com/nervous.dogs1/) are your friendly neighbourhood shitty punk rock/noise 3 piece from Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable. The line up features Jim Jam (vocals/bass), Che Budden (vocals/guitar) and Ayrton Gavin (drums). They've a debut album on the way titled Modern Life Is A Heart Attack. It'll be available on 29th Feb via Research And Destroy and 3 tracks are streaming here now :   https://surgerywithoutresearch.bandcamp.com/album/nervous-dogs

  So from the 3 songs available so far, I think the description snotty, don't give a fuck punk is an accurate one. It's a style that sounds sloppy but certainly isn't. It's hard to do it well. Back in the day there were plenty of bands like this, nowadays not so many. Nervous Dogs are a throwback but a welcome one.

  Working backwards, track 3 is a short political song that ends with chants of Fuck Brexit, Fuck Boris. Track 2 is about a toxic relationship, "I don't need your bullshit love, not anymore..." The first track, the one I'm featuring today starts with a soundbite from Jonathan Guinness "An awful lot of people who enjoy punk would really like to be back in those days when they could actually see physical people hacking each other to death" before morphing into a classic sounding song about a troubled young punk called Johnny who's climbing the walls inside his brain who gave the punk scene a heart attack. It's a little bit Steve Ignorant, a little bit Desperate Bicycles a little bit Suburban Homes. It's very good indeed. It's called Johnny Killed The Punk Scene...

Otoboke Beaver - I Am Not Maternal

  Otoboke Beaver (https://www.facebook.com/Otobokebeaver22/) are a band that have always proved popular whenever I've played them on the show or featured a song by them on here (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/04/otoboke-beaver-anata-watashi-daita-ato.html). A quick recap : They're a 4 piece punk band from Kyoto featuring a line up of Accorinrin (guitar/vocals), Yoyoyoshie (guitar/backing vocals), Hiro-chan (bass/backing vocals) and Kahokiss (drums/backing vocals). They're currently touring around Europe and the UK (check out Facebook for dates) and they've released a new single (which I'm enthusing about today). It's available via Damnably Records and you can check it out here :  https://otobokebeaver.bandcamp.com/

  The title of the single is in English so we know pretty much what the song is about but I've also used Google to translate the Japanese lyrics and it throws up lines of verse like "Calm down, my emotional hormone balance in deeply salute, dog is like my favorite dog like my dog"... "other people's affairs'm not a child abuse" and "generation to generation extremely self-realization ancestors."

  Do you know what, forget Google translations, just sit back and enjoy a rollicking good punk song. This is I Am Not Maternal...

  

Leper - ICBM

  Leper are from Umeå in Sweden and feature a line up of TB (vocals), Mackan (guitar), John (bass) and Mange (drums). They introduced themselves in 2017 with a 4 track demo and have recently followed it up with a thunderous 9 track debut album titled Frail Life. It mixes straight up punk rock with powerful hardcore and it's available on ltd edition red vinyl from Ruin Nation Records.   https://ruinnation.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3068

  You can also find it as a name your price download here :   https://leperhc.bandcamp.com/album/frail-life

  Loud and heavy hardcore music is fine but it doesn't always click with me, unless the band also have tunes I can grasp onto. Leper are a band with both aggression and tunes but happily don't clutter things with metal guitar or sludge parts. The songs are short, the energy high, it's great stuff. Have a listen.

  This is the only song on the album that creeps past the 2 minute mark, it's also my favourite. It's called ICBM...

Warheads communicate things well
They're packed with meaning not just nuclear energy
They say "remember me,
And don't forget - I'm thinking of you"

I C B M
Thinking of you
I C B M
Maybe I'll see you soon

From silos buried underground
Fully mute, but you still know what they say
Four letters loud and clear
"Distance doesn't matter - I'll be there in a few"

I C B M
Thinking of you
I C B M
Maybe I'll see you soon

Buried underneath
Hid in submarines
No need for translation
I mean immediacy

I C B M

I'll see you soon, see you soon

I C B M

I'll see you, I'll see you

I C B M

Es - Chemical

 

  Es are a 4 piece post punk band from London featuring members of Primetime (a band that topped the Just Some Punk Songs end of year chart in 2014), Scrap Brain and Gloss Reaction; Maria Cecilia Tedemalm (vocals), Katy Cotterell (bass), Tamsin M. Leach (drums) and Flora Watters (keyboards). I featured a song from their Object Relations 12" a few years ago (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/02/es-everything-is-fine.html) and am happy to report they're back and readying to release a debut album called Less Of Everything. It'll be out on Upset The Rhythm on 3rd April (pre order : http://upsettherhythm.bigcartel.com/product/es-less-of-everything-lp-pre-order) and hopes are high, especially now that they've released a video for one of the songs from it.

  I described the last song I posted by them as hypnotic and slightly creepy and this new one has similar hypnotic qualities but is a step up. It's catchier and more expansive whilst still retaining a chilly goth vibe. Flora's keyboard nags away, swirling and captivating whilst Maria bemoans emotional and physical fatigue. It's called Chemical...

CapGun Heroes - Judy

   I've not had a proper old school pop punk song on here for a while but that's going to change today as I feature a beauty of a song by a band that's influenced by the genre's elite (The Ramones, The Queers, The Lillingtons, the Riverdales, Screeching Weasel, Descendents, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Dickies) and who love playing punk rock "while consuming enough alcohol to be able to stand ourselves."

  CapGun Heroes (https://www.facebook.com/CapGunHeroes/) are from Chicago and feature members of The Cancer Merchants, Breaking Fate and Jelly Donut; Joe (Vocals), Matt (Guitar & Vocals),  Andy (Guitar & Vocals), Jimmy (Bass & Vocals) and Scott (Drums). I've said it before, but it bears repeating, writing great pop punk music is hard to do. Writing crappy pop punk is easy but coming up with something that makes you stand out in a crowded field is an art. These guys manage it.

  They've just released a 5 track ep with the self deprecating title of Who The Fuck Are These Dorks?! It's a joyous 10 minutes or so that reflects those influences without carbon copying them. A really cool debut from a band that I hope we'll hear much more from. Check it out here :   https://capgunheroes.bandcamp.com/album/who-the-fuck-are-these-dorks

  This track namechecks The Riverdales (which gives me an excuse to point you in the direction of a song by that band called Judy Go Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhYPlWAYVxk) and it has plenty of Ramonesy Hey... Ho's. It's about a girl who was a punk back in '95 (no prizes for guessing what year the Riverdales track was released!) but who isn't a punk anymore. It's called Judy...

Resuscitators - The Ron Swansong

  Resuscitators (https://www.facebook.com/resuscitatorsband/) are an energetic skate punk 3 piece from Kingston, London, who formed in 2012 and who's line up features Kyle Larkin (drums & vocals), Matt Barnwell (bass & vocals) and Roger Holland (guitars & vocals). They recently released a new 6 track ep titled Pretend It's Not Over and straight away I noticed a couple of things. Firstly they've lost a guitarist and secondly even though they're in a slimmed down form they sound better than ever. Charlie Creese at Magpie Studios in Kent has done a great job on production duties and I'm guessing that the type of folk that make the annual trek to Manchester for the MPF will have it on constant rotation. These guys are exactly the type of band that keeps the UK punk scene alive and attracts the younger generation of fans.

  It's tricky to single out a favourite from the ep, they're all classy melodic shout alongs. Backing whoa's and whey's are very much in evidence alongside big choruses. A co release between CPRW Records & Back From The Dead Records, it's available as a name your price download on Bandcamp and all money raised is going to CRISIS to help end homelessness. A great record and a very worthy cause, go snap it up :   https://resuscitators.bandcamp.com/album/pretend-its-not-over

 This is the opening track, it starts with a Parks and Recreations soundbite as "Duke Silver" charms the ladies before bursting into gravel throated joy. Add this to the list of the records worthy of playing on repeat. It's called The Ron Swansong...

Phone Jerks - Out Of The Gate

  Damn, Moncton's finest budget rockers (https://www.facebook.com/Monctongaragepunk/) Phone Jerks aren't hanging around. It only seems like 5 minutes since I featured a song from their excellent 10x10 10" but already they're back with a killer new ep. It's titled Out Of The Gate and it boasts 5 original blasts of trashy garage goodness plus a couple of mega cool covers (of classic songs originally recorded by Protex and Penetrators). The ep is available via Resurrection records (Spokane) and Wanda Records (Germany) on 7" vinyl (without the Penetrators cover) and digital download... https://resurrectionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/out-the-gate

  We're blessed currently with some totally awesome garage punk bands releasing music. Off the top of my head I'll name The Cavemen, Gino And The Goons and Control Freaks as my favourites but Phone Jerks are up there with them. Snappy choons with heavily distorted vocals that'll have you straining to decipher the lyrics but as frontman Tyler says; "it's why I loved Teengenerate so much; listening to them reminded me of when I first heard the Ramones and had no idea what they were saying but it didn't matter (all that mattered was the "sound")."

  Just in case you're struggling to work out what the title track is about, I'll give you some help. It's a song drummer Emily wrote from the point of view of her and hubby Tyler's greyhound. This is Out Of The Gate...

Negative Runners - Your World Is Dead

  Negative Runners (https://www.facebook.com/Negative-Runners-336131723180103/) are from Saint Étienne and they put out a couple of releases (Fake I.D and Stay--Negative) a few years ago. You can find them both name your price on Bandcamp :   https://negativerunners.bandcamp.com/

  They're about to release a new 8 track Self Titled album on Kick Rock Records. It'll be available on limited edition (300 copies) vinyl and it's already streaming here :   https://kickrock.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-12-4

  They play gruff voiced melodic punk of the kind that Leatherface were so good at. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of recent info about the band online, even the photo at the top of this update is an old one but who cares, the music's great so go check it out.

  This song is titled Your World Is Dead...

Dealing With Damage - Making Plans for Misery

(photo : Rob Tennant)

  Dealing With Damage (https://www.facebook.com/dealingwithdamage/) have just released a great debut album titled Ask The Questions. Today's song doesn't feature on it! They've just released a video for it though so how's about I say nice things about the album and then post the video?

  If you haven't yet come across them, Dealing With Damage are a London punk band with members who have previously featured in numerous bands such as K-Line, Jerrybuilt, Done Lying Down, Sink, Bad Dress Sense, Chocolate, Down Love, Spandex Nappy Rash & The Scum Children. They're a 4 piece with a line up of James Sherry (drums), Paul Grier (bass), Andy Myers (guitar/vocals) and Ed Wenn (lead vocals/guitar) though the album also features contributions from John Ruscoe (lead guitar), Leanne Taylor (Kalimba), Steve Cox (keyboards), Stuart Pearson (piano), Roop Coulson (backing vocals & percussion) Kent Nielsen (backing vocals & banjolele) Cassie & Chris Fox (backing vocals) & James Peake (backing vocals).

  It's melodic punk at it's best. It's both political "So, open your windows step outside your door. Scream your opposition when they try the next war. Protest singers keep on singing your songs And keep your voices strong" and personal "There are moments when I tell myself that I don't need your help. On drunken heavy metal evenings singing by myself." It's full of killer lyrics such as "Our songs on the radio. Slogans and bricks. Wearing clothes bought from charity and listening to Peel"  and  "I know one day I'll be that slow shadow The one you push by on the street. That old man in a hat with a bent back; Irritated by his fading memories" whilst, as you'd expect from a band with such a rich heritage, the musicianship is top notch. The album's available via Little Rocket Records and you can check it out here :   https://dwdlrr.bandcamp.com/

  And so to the non album track. It's one of their political songs. It's called Making Plans For Misery...

The Exbats - I Got the Hots for Charlie Watts

  I wasn't going to post this song on here. Not because I don't like it. I do. I adore it. It's the best song released so far this year. Instead I was going to wait until March 13th when the new album is released as if it's anything like previous releases by The Exbats it'll be fit to burst with great songs to select from. But as I love the band so much, you're going to get both today's featured song and then another one in March.

  The album will be titled Kicks, Hits and Fits and be available via Burger Records. Do not miss it.

  So, The Exbats (https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats/). Why do I love them so much? They aren't your typical Just Some Punk Songs band. From Tucson, dad Kenny McLain plays guitar and sings whilst his daughter Inez drums and sings (and boy, what a voice she's got!). They've been augmented with Bobby Carlson on Bass. They'd be more at home in the 60's than the late 70's, they'd appeal to your nan as much as your mohawked kid brother but damn, they're still punk as fuck. The main reason I love them is those songs are so damn cool. Maybe you saw modern day classic Hercules posted on here   https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-exbats-hercules.html or maybe you're familiar with their back catalogue https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/ If so, you'll know where I'm coming from. Timeless songs that defy genre tagging and that you can't help but play over and over (and over)...

  And do you know what? It appears as though they're just getting better and better. Sharing a name with their 2018 album, this is the latest single. Stop reading and click play on the video, it's pretty much perfect.

  I Got The Hots For Charlie Watts...

Fighting Rhythm - APES

  Fighting Rhythm (https://www.facebook.com/FightingRhythm/) are an exciting new 4 piece garage rock band from the North West of England. They're influenced by the likes of Rage Against The Machine, Idles and Ty Segall and they believe the best way to get their message across is by screaming it down a microphone. That message usually takes the form of angry and passionate tirades about the political landscape of Great Britain.

  You may have caught their debut single last year, titled The Milkshake Party it was a "fuck the Brexit Party" singalong with lines such as..

They raise their voices proudly to signify their right They’ve come to save the country from its self inflicted plight They’ve polished their brass knuckles, their suits are freshly pressed They’re canvassing the poorest towns, throwing the peasants bread.

  I don't think the band would disagree that many of the youngsters from the 70's who were scrawling NF logos on walls are now worshipping at the alter of another NF ("...their purple boy, King Nigel Farage"). It's a sad state of affairs which the band tackled with a mix of humour and rage.

  Now they're back with a new ep. It's called Pessimistic By Default and below you'll find one of the tracks from it. It's smart and relevant to the state of the current political situation in this country as we tear ourselves apart over leaving the EU. "Enemies. Good Friends. Where do they start? Where do they end?" The music is powerful, the crowd are chanting "There's No Consistency, In Our Democracy" and the video prominently features the words IGNORANCE....LIES....STUPIDITY. 

  This is APES...