Big Life - Something I Learned Today

  

  Big Life are a melodic hardcore punk band from Detroit, Michigan who feature a line up of Ryan Allen (guitar/vocals), Sean Gauvreau (bass), Dan Nixon (vocals) & Jordan Vonzynda (drums). 

  They've previously released a couple of eps and they feature on here today with a new track which is a cover of a Hüsker Dü classic. 

  The song originally appeared on Hüsker Dü's 1984 album Zen Arcade and I think it's fair to say that Big Life do it justice. It's available as a name your price download :  https://biglifehc.bandcamp.com/track/something-i-learned-today

  This is Something I Learned Today... 

Something I learned today
Black and white is always gray
Looking through the windowpane
I'm not inside your brain, your brain

Something I learned today
Yield to the right of way
Stopping at a four-way sign
Someone else's rules, not mine, not mine

Something I learned today
Never look straight in the sun's rays
Letting all the sunshine in
Can't remember where I've been, I've been

Something I learned today
Something I learned today
Something I learned today
Something I learned today
Something I learned today
Something I learned today
Something I learned today
Something I learned today

Fights And Fires - Up, Down, Labour, Conservative, A, B, Start

 

  Although I don't remember hearing them before, Worcester based quintet Fights And Fires (https://www.facebook.com/fightsandfires) have been around since 2008. They list amongst their influences the likes of The Bronx, Rocket From The Crypt, Status Quo, Thin Lizzy, Polar Bear Club & Can’t Swim. 

  Their most recent release is an ep titled Future Plans And The Things That Ruin Them. It's pitched as an ep of hope and finding a better way. It features 5 tracks of melodic hardcore on subjects such as losing your job, struggling to carry on when you're down & stuck in a rut and the difficulties of starting over. They seem to be a band who cope with the harsh realities of everyday life by getting their thoughts out in their lyrics. You can find the ep here :  https://fightsandfires.bandcamp.com/album/future-plans-and-the-things-that-ruin-them

  This is my favourite track, it's about a failed system and history repeating itself. It's a band telling us that even though we've been failed, don't fail ourselves. It's one of those tracks that you want to listen closely to the lyrics. It's also got a great title. It's called Up, Down, Labour, Conservative, A, B, Start...

Postage - Return To Sender

   

  Postage (https://www.facebook.com/postagepunks) are a "mid tempo loud abrasive melodic pop punk" band from Albany, New York, who's line up is Mike Moak (guitars/vocals), Tyler Paige (guitar), Chris Millington (drums) and Eric Pressman (bass). The members are genre veterans having served their time playing in bands such as Signal Lost, Male Patterns, Mystery Girl and After the Fall. 

  A little bit of Googling reveals that they released the 4 track Flexi ep in 2019 and then a split single the following year with Mikey Erg (https://postagepunk.bandcamp.com/album/flexi-ep) and whilst I have a very vague recollection of that split, it wasn't till recently and the release of a song titled 80-85 (still probably my favourite by them) that the band properly registered. Both it and follow up teaser track Smitten impressed me a lot and made me make a mental note to watch out for the album's release.

  

  The Self Titled album is now available to check out in it's entirety and a very enjoyable listen it is. Long term fans of the bands will recognise several of the tracks which were originally on those earlier releases and have been given a loving polish. If, like me, you're late to the party then you've 10 gems to unearth. It's available from Dirt Cult Records on vinyl (300 copies) and digital download :  https://dirtcultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/postage

  Coming in at a lean, mean 72 seconds, Paranoia kicks things off in style and things continue in a similar fashion throughout. All the tracks are catchy and worthy of  multiple plays. This is one of them, it's called Return To Sender... 

 

Reverse - Broken Windows

  

Through A Window

Watching As The Summers Fade Away

Broken Windows

Hoping That Tomorrow Beats Today

  

  If you're a fan of melodic hardcore then you're in for a treat today. 

  Reverse (https://www.facebook.com/Reverse-142772795895814/) formed in Stoke On Trent in 1990. released a 1993 split single with Exit Condition and a few singles on Damaged Goods (Stem The Slide, Lock, Stagnant) before splitting in 2003. Japanese label SP Records put out a collection of their work in the form of 2011's Chasing Ghosts album. 

  Then a couple of years ago they got back together and have recently released a killer new album titled Empty Spaces. With a line up featuring Paul Beard (drums), Dan Rowley (guitar/backing vocals), Mick Flock (guitar/backing vocals) and Nick Sharratt (bass/vocals), they're better than ever. It's a dozen catchy as hell songs that'll have you singing along and it's available on vinyl from Boss Tuneage Records http://bosstuneage.bigcartel.com/product/reverse-empty-spaces-vinyl-lp-with-cdr-included 

  Digital fans go here : https://bosstuneagerecords.bandcamp.com/album/empty-spaces 

  So what's my favourite song? I honestly don't know, the standard's top notch throughout. So I'm going to go with one of the tracks that isn't streaming on Bandcamp. This is an anthem and a half it's called Broken Windows...   

Lay It On The Line - Nil Desperandum

  

  Lay It On The Line (https://www.facebook.com/layitontheline/) are a melodic hardcore punk band from South London who were formed in 2012 by Phinius Gage bassist/vocalist Mike Scott along with his brother Matt and Not Katies guitarist Dave Smith. They've undergone numerous line up changes since but are currently settled as a 5 piece. They've recently released a 2nd album titled A Candle In Hell and you can snap it up as a name your price download from Bandcamp :  https://layitontheline.bandcamp.com/album/a-candle-in-hell 

  I've got to be honest and admit that I 'm not always a massive fan of this type of punk music, especially if it veers to far towards the dreaded metal genre! But these guys manage to get it right and with Mike's vocals complimented by the very impressive tones of Alice Hour (she also fronts Darlington punks In Evil Hour  https://inevilhour.bandcamp.com/), it stands out in a crowded field. It's everything you want from a punk album, energy, aggression, well written lyrics and a band that definitely know how to play their instruments. 

  This is a track I played on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show (and which got the chatroom folk buzzing), it's called Nil Desperandum... 

Diaz Brothers - Melancholy Hand Grenades

  Diaz Brothers (https://www.facebook.com/DiazBrothersSunderland/) are the melodic punk 5 piece from Sunderland featuring past and current members of several other bands the most notable being HDQ. Featuring Callum Hewitt, Dave Golledge, Max Hakius, Mick Jones and Neil Cox they formed after it was decided it wouldn't be right to carry on as HDQ following the sad passing of guitarist Dickie Hammond. They've just released a debut Self Titled album and it's as good as you'd expect from a bunch of musicians with such pedigree.

  It's pretty much impossible to talk about a band from Sunderland and mention both Dickie Hammond and HDQ without bringing up that city's best band, Leatherface. They were kings of the melodic hardcore punk genre and they cast a long shadow for Diaz Brothers to walk in. They were always going to garner comparisons and whilst I'd say the debut album was always going to find it difficult to match my favourite Leatherface album (Mush) it does stand up well when compared with latter day albums such as the excellent The Stormy Petrel. This is a band that are masters of their craft and in Dave Golledge they've a frontman with the vocal talent to do justice to some well crafted and often aggressive music. 

  The album is available on vinyl (with cd included) from Boss Tunage   http://bosstuneage.bigcartel.com/product/diaz-brothers-diaz-brothers-lp-with-cd-included

  You can listen here : https://diazbrothers.bandcamp.com/releases

  It's hard to choose a favourite song as they're all pretty much punching at the same weight. Every tracks a winner but I'm going with Melancholy Hand Grenades...

Flinch - Breathe

  Flinch are a melodic hardcore band from Novi Sad, Serbia, featuring Jovan (vocals), Nikola (bass/vocals), Ognjen (guitar/vocals), Pavel (drums) and Nina (guitar). Those of you that really pay attention may recognise some of those names as the band were previously called Against The Odds and a song by them featured on here in 2017 (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/09/against-odds-from-kids.html). As guitarist Nina Zvezdin says, "We changed the name of the band but it's pretty much the same crew. There have been a lot of line up changes over the years and it's a completely different sound than it was 6 years ago when we started. A name change was long overdue."

  Their new ep, Ask For Help, was released in February and is suitably shouty and hard hitting. The 4 tracks on the ep seem to focus on those times when you're struggling mentally. Lyrics include "Is anyone listening? Can you hear the muted screams?" / "I know I can do it but I don't want to all alone." / "I've been running scared all my life."etc. I guess that's why it's titled Ask For Help. Anyway, you can download it name your price here :  https://flinchhc.bandcamp.com/

  There's also a limited edition run of tapes available from Underground Disco Beočin

  This is the opening track, it's called Breathe...

Breathe, 
With short quick breaths, 
Heart rate skyrocketing like a weight on my chest, 
I can’t face society, anxiety consumes my life. 

Water burning down your throat, 
While heat drowns out your insides, 
Is this what it’s supposed to feel like, 
Or have I just lost my mind? 

Is anybody listening? 
Can you hear the muted screams? 
Are you listening? 

Let’s raise the stakes, 
Not like it matters it’s only one life. 
Is it bad or just getting worse? 
"It’s not over before it’s too late" 
That’s what they think will keep you calm, 
Nothing will cost you more. 

Breathe, 
Take the weight off your chest.

Uniforms - Get Me Out Of Here

  Uniforms formed in 2011, spent the next 4 years playing over 200 shows and releasing various eps, splits and demos before deciding to call it a day. Refreshed and ready to go again they reformed late last year and have recently released a new ep titled Reasons To Breathe. They hail from Dundee and feature a line up of Derrick (guitar/vocals), Jamie (guitar/vocals), Ade (bass/vocals) and Jason (drums/vocals). You may know Derrick (Johnston) as founder of Make That A Take Records (https://makethatatakerecords.bandcamp.com/).

  To help promote the ep they're currently touring and you can get details of the remaining dates here : https://www.facebook.com/WEAREUNIFORMS/

  The ep features 3 songs, melodic and anthemic it's the sort of music that should appeal to those of you who shed a tear when Bear Trade decided to go their seperate ways. Out now on both Make That A Take Records and TNS you can check it out here :  https://uniforms.bandcamp.com/album/reasons-to-breathe-ep-2

  This is the opening track, it's no doubt going to have their audiences singing along and it's called Get Me Out Of Here...

There is a culture I no longer believe in
Thought police posing as my friends
They’ll tell you who you are, what offends them
They’ll tell you everything ain’t as good as it used to be
Well, well, well...

Well I’m getting out
I’m getting out
Get me outta here!

Maybe we need to learn to listen
Maybe we’ll develop empathy
Don’t tell me who I am, what offends me
I promise you everything’s better than it used to be.
Well, well, well...

Well I’m getting out
I’m getting out
Get me outta here.

Sometimes that’s how it goes
Sometimes you just don’t know
Sometimes you gotta go
Sometimes you gotta go to know
Sometimes, oh sometimes...

Against the Odds - From the Kids

  Against The Odds are a melodic hardcore punk band from Novi Sad, Serbia. They formed in 2011 and released their debut album, Let Friends Be Friends, in 2015. Since then they've parted ways with their drummer and since replacing him with Pavel have now got the sound they've been looking for. The rest of the band is Jovan Slijepčević (vocals), Nina Zvezdin (guitar), Ognjen Arđelan (guitar/vocals) and Marko Ranisavljev (bass/vocals).

  They've just released a new ep titled 11th Hour and you can get it (as well as their album) name your price on Bandcamp....  https://againsttheoddspunk.bandcamp.com/

  The ep contains 5 tracks, one of which they've made a video for. This is From The Kids.....

All that we have done here 
with broken strings and healthy minds 
Smashing into pieces 
with a drop of dirty dye 

Don’t pull out the bricks 
from the walls we watched you build 
While we are still bleeding for 
the legacy of what you used to be 

This was made for all of us 
No one should be on the outside looking in 
It’s for the kids from the kids 
Just leave your ego at the door 

This was made for all of us 
No one should be on the outside looking in 
It’s for the kids from the kids 
Just leave your ego at the door 

And if you need a reminder, 
we’ll strike the match to light the fuse 

It’s from the kids for the kids 
Don’t let it be last call

Topsy Turvy's - Like A Living Dead

 

 http://www.topsyturvys.fr/


  An upbeat new melodic punk tune from the south west of France today. Topsy Turvy's are from Poitiers and have been together since 2008. Featuring both male and female vocals and employing a strong d.i.y. ethos they've played around 200 shows all over Europe and released 3 albums and 2 split ep's.

  The first of those albums was 2011's Fall In Love With An Alien Girl (the combination of punk rock and sci fi is always a winner with me). The following year saw them put out You Better Believe It, You're In which featured 8 more tracks of feel good pop punk (I'm just listening to the title track as I type this and I'm being reminded a little of one of my favourite bands of this type, The Bat Bites). 2013 brought us the split ep's, one with Sidewalk (from Holland) and the other with another French band called Johk.

  Today's song is taken from their latest release, a 6 track mini album called I Expect Nothing And I'm Still Let Down. You can check it out, along with their other releases here : http://topsyturvys.bandcamp.com/album/i-expect-nothing-and-im-still-let-down

  Lining up Noemie (bass/vocals), Dam's (guitar/vocals), Crusty Bat (guitar/vocals) and Cyp (drums), it's a comfort that even whilst the world seems to get more fucked up every day there's still people out there making great music that'll brighten up your day.

  I'm currently working my way through their back catalogue, I'd recommend you guys do the same. Maybe you could start with the new video for Like A Living Dead......