Whilst not a new song, today's earworm has just been reissued and it's rattling round in my mind so I thought I'd post it on here.
Sick Thoughts, aka Drew Owen (https://www.facebook.com/drew.owen.142) are certainly no strangers to Just Some Punk Songs having featured several times since 2014. On that occasion I posted a song titled Frustrated and said "If, instead of writing a blog, I was a radio dj, and I had a record of the week slot whereby I selected the best of the weeks new releases, Frustrated by Sick Thoughts would now be booming out on the nation's airwaves."
Shortly after that I sort of did become a dj and have played numerous Sick Thoughts songs including a couple from his 2023 ep Born To Blitzkrieg. But it seems I didn't feature anything from that release on here. As Slovenly Recordings have reissued both that and last years Another Piece Of Plastic it's a good excuse to rectify things.
You can find the reissues here on vinyl and digital download :
I played a couple of songs from their 2022 album Northern Powerhouse on the show a few years ago and I've repeated that by playing a couple of new songs on the last two shows (both went down a storm with the listeners).
The new album is titled 21st Century Bullshit Detector and it's deserving of your attention. It opens with the title track and it's a song that pretty much sums up the band's anger towards our ruling elite (and those that are in opposition)... "They promise you the earth in their manifesto All you get’s frustration with the end results though."
Other tracks encourage the listener unite against the rise in right wing rhetoric and remind us that "we might not have much but we got each other." There's even a touching song about Ian Curtis "You gave us Unknown Pleasures You made the shadows play Till you took desperate measures And your own life away Destroyed by epilepsy You stared into the void Premature mortality Took away our joy."
This song touches the heartstrings of someone who was born in Lancaster and will probably end his days in Chorley. It's called Born In The North, Die In The North...
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from northern towns
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from working class towns
We’re anti-racism, we’re anti-Fash
We believe in people not power and cash
So come and join us, you’ll take no harm
We’ll welcome you with open arms
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from northern towns
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from working class towns
From the land of cotton, industry and mines
Working class struggles in the hardest times
Everyone together black, brown and white
One working class struggle one working class fight
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from northern towns
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from working class towns
We’ll pull no punches – say what we will
We don’t really care if we die on this hill
A song and chorus to those who inspire
Raise your voices in the land of fire
BREAK
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from northern towns
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from working class towns
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from northern towns
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from working class towns
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from northern towns
Born in the North, die in the north
We’re working class folk from working class towns
April 17th 2026. Both a great day and a sad one. Liverpool trio Down And Outs (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063529751445) have just released their 6th album. Sadly, after 23 years of treating us to some of the best punk tunes you'll hear, it's also their final album.
Featuring a line up of Chris Howard (bass/vocals), Morgan Brown (drums/vocals) & Mark Magill (vocals/guitar) the album is titled Disconnect and it's available on vinyl (Brassneck Records & Dead Broke Records), cd (Waterslide Records) and as a name your price digital download.
You'll already know what to expect by now (if not, go wild and take advantage of all the name your price downloads on their Bandcamp page)... a bunch of finely crafted melodic punk gems. It'll not be the same without these guys (although Mark has mentioned "There's some unreleased songs, demos and bits and bobs in the vault that I'll upload at some point. I'm sure you can manage without it, but why not, eh?" so maybe there's a little more to come one day).
This seems an apt song to feature, it's called Last Orders...
A nice booming singalong chorus today in a song that deals with one of the hot topics of our times.
Cowboy Hunters (https://www.facebook.com/CowboyHunters) are a noisy duo from Scotland who've been pretty prolific over the last 3 years. A mix of old school confrontational attitude and modern day soundscapes they should appeal to pretty much everyone (I say should but unfortunately most people wouldn't know good music if it bit them on the arse!).
Song title of the week goes to this one, it's called Shag Slags Not Flags...
Long day at work she comes home to a mess Said he'd clean up but he's over at friends Is she getting some tonight She's not holding her breath Gets her laptop Then it's open to vent (I'll have what she's having) 43 with a flag in her bio Says she hates blanks But that is a typo The sexual frustration You could catch with your eyes closed Lonely at night So turned to a wino I know a few guys 6 out of 10's Could sort your life out Make a chick of a hen Get your dickstraction You'd be listening then But for now she's finding foreigners And wishing them death She goes
Oh no you crossed a line one a map You better get online Cause it's time to attack Maybe get outside Try and lie on the grass Mate you should Everyone
Shag slags not flags Shag slags not flags Shag slags not flags Shag slags not flags
Let me guess Your wife left didn't she Took the house, kids, money, And your dignity How you cope has got your Twitter feed in disbelief Any prick can see You're on the wrong side of history
Oh no you crossed a line one a map You better get online Cause it's time to attack Maybe get outside Try and lie on the grass Mate you should Everyone
Shag slags not flags Shag slags not flags Shag slags not flags Shag slags not flags
There's a new 5 song ep out in which Andy's aided and abetted by Luke Hesketh Drums (Sonic Boom Six), James Routh Difficult bass bits (Sonic Boom Six) & UK Nige Vocals and additional guitars (Sick 56, One Way System, The Diggers). It's titled The Spectators Are Leaving and it's available on cd and as a name your price download https://jsntgmrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-spectators-are-leaving
There's a video for opening track When The Story Ends (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3AOkKNtPqs) but the song I'm highlighting is the title track, The Spectators Are Leaving...
Sweat (https://www.instagram.com/sweat_rockers/) have been around since 2019, having fun, making noise and gaining a lot of fans. They play hardcore punk chock full of hard hitting riffs AND catchy melodies.
They've just released a new album titled Tear It On Down. Featuring a line up of Tuna Tardugno (vocals), Anthony Rivera (drums), Justin Smith (guitar/vocals) & Kevin Conway (bass), it's an energetic blast that'll appeal to fans of bands such as Amyl And The Sniffers, Slaughterhouse & Scowl. Check it out here : https://sweatrockers666.bandcamp.com/album/tear-it-on-down
This is just one of many highlights, it's called Smaller Cages, Shorter Chains...
Opposition a long standing tradition
Pitting me against you
And us against them
But we won’t take the bait
Can’t give them the satisfaction
Because all we get is smaller cages and shorter chains
They didn’t pull the trigger
They just made the mold
Don’t want any trouble
Just do as they’re told
Ammunition another tradition
Turn their backs applaud misuse
Applaud abuse
Can’t let them have comfort cause all we get
Is smaller cages and shorter chains
They didn’t pull the trigger
They just made the mold
Record profits
Before the guns gone cold
Don’t want any trouble
Just want the gold
Your days are numbered
Your days are numbered
While
The cages getting smaller
The chains are getting shorter
The rage is growing stronger
The kids are getting smarter
Your days are numbered
Where’s the melody in murder
Where’s the melody in murder
The cages getting smaller
The chains are getting shorter
The kids are getting smarter
Your days are numbered
You’re outnumbered
And getting number
But we’re not
"You’re the greatest you’re the latest you’re that superstar..."
Do you remember back in the day when we had punk pioneers such as The Pistols, The Clash, The Damned etc. 3 chords, attitude and some spiky melody? Do you remember we also had the likes of Wreckless Eric, Ian Dury, TV Personalities etc. DIY acts that weren't quite punk but comfortably fit under that umbrella. Today's song reminds me of them.
The Dear Boys are from Bexhill On Sea in East Sussex. They're a trio made up of Tony Page, Tony Fletcher & Brett Buddy Ascott and last month they released their first single of 2026 (their 5th physical release). It's part of the build up to an album which is planned for later this year.
Dedicated to the next generation, it's a song that seeks to promote self worth. Get out there kids, the world is yours. Take it. You're great!
Last November saw them release an album titles No Plan. It was definitely a case of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Songs about girls and various Sci-Fi shenanigans, it was crammed with hooks and harmonies. You can check it out here : https://thehallingtons.bandcamp.com/album/no-plan
They've just posted a video for one of the songs, it's about an encounter with a legendary winged humanoid creature with glowing red eyes. As I recently read a novel by Hunter Shea titled Shadow Of The Mothman it kind of struck a chord. This is I Met The Mothman...
No more warnings, no more peace Shaved heads gleaming under the lights You wanted war? we’ll do it tonight
Steel-toed vengeance, cold as a corpse You called us out, now get ready for war No second chances, no room for regret You’ll pay the price, you won’t forget
(Chorus) This is the last resort You’ve given no choice This is the last resort Go get all your boys The talk is over The dance is finished When we catch up with your crew We won’t leave a witness
Fists like hammers, crackin’ your jaw No mercy given, we break the law Brass knuckles shine in the neon glow This ain’t for show—it’s all we know
Battle scars from a hundred brawls Backs to the wall, but we never fall Loyalty’s inked deep in our skin Blood for blood, let the game begin!
(Chorus)
Iron-clad code, we stand as one No one runs ‘til the job is done Streetlights flicker, sirens scream But the gang rolls on—the sickest team
The battle’s won, the street is ours Echoes fade through the midnight hours Remember our names, remember the pain Cross us once—you won’t do it again!
Coming back into the picture with a 12" are LOTUS (https://www.facebook.com/LotusBelgium/) a band that always ranked high in my Belgian list of great bands. They play hardcore but with a different approach than the majority of other bands here in Belgium. Their style is defined by spartanic power riffing and a pounding rhythm section that alternates tempos. Blended with passionate vocals that scream out the parlando manifestos of each song added to this cocktail of angry short assaults.
For sure a style that I can devour with delight. Ever since their first release "ISRAEL", they've left an impression on me, and again on this 13 odd minute 10 track release, they managed to do so again.
Last weekend I went to see their release show, I was looking forward to it as it had become a bit quiet around Lotus (or was it me not paying attention?). So taking the opportunity to get me a copy of this 12" and now listening it for a few times, it is yet again a production so solid that could crush your little ear cells.
I picked out the song in which they tried out a bit of different approach through adding reverb on the vocals, it adds value to "Ouroboros II: One Life".
I didn’t walk out on a town that just wouldn’t burn when I was on fire
Into the fever of the city to get a little more nowhere The days crawl by and for some sick little reason The nights make me feel even less alive
The routine moon, the aisling sun The mechanical grind, the perpetual drudge And all my rage, the rage of stone It’s weighing me down with savage disgust
And it’s dragging me back under again
The routine is coming in heads over tails Teeth into scales And it’s biting down hard again
Whenever I’m light on my wings The pendulum always swings And I come down hard again
The moon shines cold on my head full of lead And I don’t feel like I’ve come out of my twenties alive Each passing day, I grow unwell in a new way And time keeps eating away at the good stuff
The worst always turns to worse, I’ve been dealing in hurt Like a memorial of youth idly biding its time But “our life is a journey through winter and night We look for our way in a sky without light”*
