MK ULTRAS - Pray For Us

 

 " Pray for us
 We don't fit in "

  MK ULTRAS (https://www.facebook.com/mkultrasofficial) are from Cleveland, Ohio and I first became aware of them last year when they released a Self Titled 12" ("8 tracks packed full with raw rock action. Riffs rip through like chainsaws and the bashing in of the drum kit is kin to shotgun blasts ricocheting through tin tunnels"). 

  They're back again with a new ep titled Disband I. It says on their Bandcamp page that the 4 songs were by Clevo sk8 punk legends Disband. I tried to check out those original versions but could find no mention of them anywhere. 

  The ep is available on 7" vinyl from Mandinga Records (Brazil) and it's definitely well worth checking out : https://mkultras.bandcamp.com/album/disband-i

  I was going to highlight Teenage Revolt, it's such a great and timeless sounding punk classic but then the final track on the ep lodged itself into my brain and wouldn't shake itself loose. It's a mid paced anthem with harmonies to die for. This is Pray For Us... 

Destroy The Idols - A Glimpse Of Hell

  

  Destroy The Idols (https://www.facebook.com/Destroytheidols) are a skate punk band from Essex who I played on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show but who've also been getting noticed by "proper" radio stations, including the BBC. They're new to me but if I've worked this out correctly they were called If All Else Fails but they recently changed it due to other bands having the same name. 

  They've just released a lively debut (under their new name) ep titled The Gunn. It's named after their guitarist Stuart Gunn who played on the ep before heading off back to Australia. The other members of the band are William Third (Guitar/Vocals/Songwriter), Andy McBane (Bass) & Pete Harrison (Drums). Amongst their influences they list the likes of NOFX, Lagwagon & Rancid.

  You can get it as a name your price download here :

 https://destroytheidols.bandcamp.com/album/the-gunn-ep

  This is the opening track, it's called A Glimpse Of Hell... 

Making Friends - Planet Zoo

  

  Back in June I posted a song (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2023/06/making-friends-atm.html) by Brighton skate punk quartet Making Friends (https://www.facebook.com/MakingFriendsBand) and mentioned they were turning their attention to the release of a debut album titled Fine Dying.

 

  Happily that album is now with us and it's a treasure chest of aural delights. The previously featured song, ATM, kicks things off in great style and the quality doesn't dip throughout. If catchy as hell melodic punk anthems are your thing then you can't go wrong. It's available on vinyl, cd and digital download here : https://makingfriendsofficial.bandcamp.com/album/fine-dying

  The track I'm highlighting laments that despite there being plenty of resources on our planet we're walking ever faster to our extinction. It's called Planet Zoo... 

 

Reason To Leave - What Are You Fighting For

    

  When I featured Reason To Leave (https://www.facebook.com/ReasonToLeavePunk) in July I mentioned that their new ep, Rise And Grind, was just around the corner (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2023/07/reason-to-leave-edge-of-knife.html).

  With that corner now turned, I think it's worthy of giving them another shout out as it's an ep you won't want to miss.

  It's an impressive collection of hard edged, up tempo skate punk singalongs. I envisage plenty of sweat soaked gigs in this bands future as their songs all seem to be fast and furious earworms. The ep's available on cd (ltd to 100 copies) and digital download via Manchester label Horn & Hoof Records :  https://hornhoofrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rise-and-grind 

  This is the opening track, it's called What Are You Fighting For...

Reason To Leave - Edge Of A Knife

    

  I featured a song (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2022/05/reason-to-leave-cant-stand-you.html) on here just over a year ago by north west of England quartet Reason To Leave (https://www.facebook.com/ReasonToLeavePunk) and commented that "they're a new band but they've arrived fully formed and on point".

  With their new ep, Rise & Grind, just around the corner, I thought it'd be a good idea to check in on them and see if they're fulfilling that early potential.

  The short answer being, hell yeah, they are.

  They've just released the first single from the ep, it's (as expected) hard edged but melodic skate punk. A little under 2 minutes of anthemic rock and what's more, you can check it out as a name your price download : https://reasontoleave.bandcamp.com/track/last-words

  A very promising introduction to the new ep, this is Edge Of A Knife...

Making Friends - ATM

  

  Making Friends (https://www.facebook.com/MakingFriendsBand) are a fast and fresh melodic skatepunk quartet from Brighton who play short songs. They've been drip feeding ep's (including a split ep with Nuneaton melodic punk rockers Shackleford) onto Bandcamp for a couple of years or so but are now turning their attention to the release of a debut album which will be titled Fine Dying. 

  Their music is quite poppy but as you'll hear on the song below it's fresh sounding and really rather infectious. I played it on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show and I wasn't the only person in the chatroom that drew comparisons to Aussie legends Frenzal Rhomb. 

  You can find it streaming here : https://makingfriendsofficial.bandcamp.com/track/atm-2 

  A tale of making do. Working hard, earning a pittance. Faking smiles and plodding on. This is called ATM...

No Matter - It's Boring

 

  No Matter (https://www.facebook.com/nomatterband) are "a fast-paced, energetic pop/skate/melodic punk rock quartet" from Belfast who have been causing somewhat of a buzz both at home and abroad. Featuring a line up of Dan (Vocals and guitar), Jamie (Drums), Cat (Vocals and bass) & Jarlath (Vocals and guitar) they've been around for over a decade now and just keep getting better and better. 

    

  They've just released an album titled Bad Chemistry and it's as good as anything that came across the pond from the States in the 90's. It's a joyous collection of 14 catchy as fuck songs that will probably have you thinking of some of those bands from that era that made it big and therefore became uncool. Happily, No Matter are still cool as hell, their songs are ear worms but media overkill hasn't yet reared it's ugly head. 

  Variety is provided by sharing the vocal duties around whilst musically there's energy in abundance. The album's available on vinyl via Brassneck Records (UK), Stardumb Records (Europe), Moms Basement Records (US) and Tower Records (Japan). You can find the digital version here :  https://nomatter1.bandcamp.com/album/bad-chemistry 

  One of the best songs you'll hear this year, this is It's Boring...

A work in progress, lately working overtime
Losing insight, although not enough to miss the warning signs I ignored as benign
Begin the starting line
Some people have to fight their way out of the jaws
Others roll through life, judging and deducing “just because”
It must be nice to have no flaws
So liberating; High and mighty in the safety nets that you’re creating

It’s ugly inside out, it’s ugly inside out
It’s ugly inside out, it’s ugly inside out as I found out
No shadow of a doubt
Just look at yourself
Is your path stronger than mine
Or are you fooling yourself

Flash the confusion that’s scheduled to ensue
When you said that you went down the hole, does that mean that I’ll soon be going too
I’ve nothing more to do than stumble after you
Although inside it’s beating me black and blue

It’s easy now to say its better off this way
So I must reiterate; on the subject I’ve got nothing more to say
Nothing more to say, it’s boring

Reason To Leave - Can't Stand You

  

  Reason To Leave (https://www.facebook.com/ReasonToLeavePunk) are Mike (Vocals), Martin (Bass), "Bishop Don" Ron (Guitar) & Jasper (Drums), a hardcore/melodic skate punk quartet from the north west of England. Their influences include the likes of 88 Fingers Louie, Good Riddance, Suicidal Tendencies etc. 

  June 1st will see them release a debut ep titled Waste Of Our Time and to give us a taste of what to expect they've just unleashed a blistering teaser single from it. You can get it here as a name your price download https://reasontoleave.bandcamp.com/releases

  I've been lucky enough to grab the full ep and can confirm that the energy levels displayed on the single are present throughout. It's definitely an ep recorded by punk fans that were turned on to the genre in the 90's. They sound as though they'd be equally at home gigging around California rather than Blackpool but it's all done with enough enthusiasm that it still sounds fresh. They're a new band but they've arrived fully formed and on point.

  

  My favourite song is possibly the title track but you'll have to wait to hear that, in the meantime treat your ears to Can't Stand You... 

Swan Prince - Rogue

 

   "Society wasn't meant for me
  We've got nothing because of them"

  If you ever listen to the Just Some Punk Songs show you may have noticed that most shows tend to start off with the more melodic tunes before the latter stages build towards the heavier and angrier hardcore stuff. This is by design and tends to see the listeners in the chatroom getting warmed up before they get whipped up. Positive comments and compliments seem to flow more freely in part 2 of the show. This doesn't mean though that the songs in the first half don't go down well, they do and a case in point (which featured last week (https://www.mixcloud.com/mick-fletcher/just-some-punk-songs-160820/) was a track from the new album by Midlands punks Swan Prince (https://www.facebook.com/SwanPrinceBand). The band are a 4 piece from Redditch featuring Ed Draper (Guitar), Josh Stockwin (Drums), Danny Bartlett (Bass) and Rachel Stockwin (Guitar/Vocals) who play a 90's Fat Wreck influenced style of catchy skate punk. They formed in 2017 and their album, their debut, is titled Hell On Earth.

  It's 13 tracks of pacy female fronted punk that isn't ashamed to add a fair old dollop of well produced melodic pop to the mix. If you like a catchy tune to accompany the music you jump around to then this could well be for you. The ltd coloured vinyl version of the album is available from Brassneck Records (UK) and Swamp Cabbage Records (US) whilst Japan's Waterslide Records has both vinyl and cd. You can get the digital version (plus their previous releases) here :  https://swanprince.bandcamp.com/album/hell-on-earth

  This is the track that went down so well on the show, it's a gorgeous ear worm with a political message about the left side being the right side despite what the press may have you believe so get your head out of your ass and open your eyes. It's called Rogue...

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...

Nieviem - Austeritory

  Nieviem are a hard hitting skate punk band from Lincoln and featured on here just over a year ago with their single, Fick (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/01/nieviem-fick.html). They return today with an equally blistering track taken from their new ep Up In The Air. The album features 6 tracks (including a live cover of the Pennywise classic Bro Hymn) and it's available either on cd or digitally : https://nieviem.bandcamp.com/album/up-in-the-air

 The band are currently looking for a new drummer so if you can help out get in touch here :  https://www.facebook.com/nieviem/

 Up In The Air is an energetic blast of fast and furious punk tuneage with vocalist Hope Bateman spewing out viciously well written lyrics. Her voice both melodic and powerful, she's the perfect match for this kind of music. This song deals with the familiar subject of the rich getting richer whilst the rest of us struggle to get by, it's called Austeritory.....

They have lots of dough
Divert our attention each day
They help out the poor
- Until they can’t be repaid
We clinically sat that
These people are sincere
But the heart of the problem
Forever remains here
Oh
We’re red, white and blue
But it’s nothing to do with
You
The news is full of flatulence
‘Cos we’re not making sense
We have 20:20 vision
But nothing is clear
You should be inside, not out
- But you can’t stay here
Here is a man
Who is fighting tonight
He’s a little more left wing
And that’s not right!
“Send me to jail
It feels just like a home
Cut off from the world
I’m already alone
I don’t give a fuck
It doesn’t mean I’ve given up
You mis-take my mistakes
And for God’s sake I’m forsaken!
Forget whatever you’ve heard
There’s not need to say a word
Just watch and observe
Here’s what you see;
A broken society
Their prosperity is our austerity
A door way is safe to roam
Unless it’s your home
And there’s no one to phone
Tread carefully -
You’re on their territory
Their prosperity is our austerity
So tread carefully
You’re on their territory
Their prosperity...

Vanilla Pod - Grey

 

  Vanilla Pod are from Kings Lynn, Norfolk, and seem to have been around forever (a bit of research reveals they formed in Feb 1995). I think I first came across them around 1999, I remember having their Faster Disco cd (Baa Lamb being a particular favourite, a definite top sing along from that era  https://vanillapod1.bandcamp.com/track/baa-lamb). I've also got their next two albums, Third Time Lucky and Surrounded By Idiots stored away under the stairs somewhere alongside cds by the likes of 4 Ft Fingers, Lightyear, Capdown etc. I only ever caught them live once, it must have been the first year back in Blackpool for Holidays In The Sun after the festival moved from Morecambe if I remember correctly, and they were as good live as on record.

  And many years later, in 2018, they're still with us. But only just. They're calling it a day. Their last ever gig will be a home town affair on November 3rd alongside a great line up of bands such as Consumed, Wonk Unit, Milloy, Faintest Idea, One Car Pile Up and Spoilers. You can get more details here :  https://www.facebook.com/vanillapodrock/

  As a farewell, they leave us with one final ep. Aptly titled Goodbye My Love, it contains 4 new melodic punk gems and it's available on random coloured 7" vinyl from numerous UK labels and on cd from Fixing A Hole Records (again, check out the Facebook link for details). If digital is your thing, you can find it here : https://vanillapod1.bandcamp.com/album/goodbye-my-love 

  There's been a few line up changes down the years but they sign off on this final release with Rob Bunting (vocals), Steve Pitcher (guitar), Matt Clarke (bass), Leon Muncaster (guitar) and Robin Tows (drums). It's a shame they won't be around any longer but at least they're going out with a bang. From the new ep, this is called Grey....

The Phosphorus Bombs - A Bruise

 

  Yesterday we had Human Bombs so today I'm following that up with The Phosphorus bombs as the second part of an explosive one-two of punk rock goodness. 

  Hailing from Sydney, The Phosphorus Bombs are a 5 piece featuring Beef (guitar/backing vocals), Cheggs (drums), Harwood (guitar/backing vocals), Kearnes (vocals) and Rod (bass/backing vocals). Their influences include Bad Religion, Strung Out, Pennywise, Descendents, Propagandhi, Good Riddance, Ignite, Danzig era Misfits etc...

  They've built up a reputation an an impressive skate punk outfit with a couple of well received eps Chain Of Command (2015) and Barricade (2016) plus last year's blistering debut album Cancers. As the band's name would suggest, the songs are incendiary blasts of fierce, energetic punk rock. Short, explosive and sure to get you moving.

  You can get more info here : https://www.facebook.com/thephosphorusbombs/

  At the end of this month they'll be releasing a new ep, it'll be titled Blank Slates and was recorded by Frenzal Rhomb's Jay Whalley at The Pet Food Factory. As a taster they've released a single and as with all previous releases you can snap it up name your price on Bandcamp :  https://thephosphorusbombs.bandcamp.com/album/a-bruise

  One of the songs on the single is a rip roaring mash up of Bad Religion's I Want To Conquer The World and Modern Man. Below you'll find the title track, it's an unsolicited support of #metoo and it's called A Bruise....

This picture out of frame 
Step back dispute and mute, confusion sought without a name 
The guilt of never backing down 
Shoulders moulded to the sound 
Of voices, purple, black and blue 
Like a bruise 

And speak 
Louder still 
In borrowed space that time has yet to fill 

Yet this is what’s become 
When change recedes from what is needed 
Consolation to the numb 
So left exposed reclaim…the words by any other name 
Histories purple, black and blue 

Like a bruise 
And speak 
Louder still 
In borrowed space that time has yet to fill 
And seethe 
Honestly ’til 
You defend the space your lives are left to fill 

So bodies remember 
The time it takes for someone to believe 
The times you thought life’s better in defeat 
So bodies remember 

So bodies remember 
That lies support the barrier in-between 

Farewell to… 
The simpering remnants of shameful retreat 

So lead… 

So lead 
Bravely til you 
Defend your space with the lives you have rebuilt

KRANG - No fun in Fundamentalism

  KRANG are a skate punk band from the Czech Republic which began life in December 2014 when 4 friends who played in other bands decided to start a fun side project. Inspired by the 90's skatepunk scene (Millencolin, Descendents, Bad Religion etc), they soon released debut ep OK USA! and followed it with an album called Baddest Brain. After honing their sound with tours of such far flung places as Mexico, Central America, Israel and Japan they've recently released sophomore album Singalong.

  Dan Rola, Tomas Gabko, Stanislav Holis and Tomas Hennel are the band members, the new album is available from both Bird Attack Records and Melodic Punk Style. The songs are fast and fun with titles such as Indiana Jones Hates Snakes And Nazis, Zombies Should Be Slow and Kick Ass Or Chew Bubble Gum. You can check it out here :   https://krangpunkrock.bandcamp.com/album/singalong-2

  They're planning on Uk and US tours this year so keep an eye on their Facebook page for details : https://www.facebook.com/krangpunx/

  Short and sweet, this is No Fun In Fundamentalism....

Hey you! Holy man! 
It’s 2016 remember it well 
There is no point to act stupid 
and hurt people 
because you think you can 

Hey you! Holy man! 
It’s 2016 remember it well 
Let us go, let us live in peace 
Does it ring any bell? 

There is no fun 
In killing people for your god 
There is no fun 
Your holy book is all you’ve got 
There is no fun! (NO) 
In FUNDAMENTALISM

Elder Abuse - Lemonade

 

  Elder Abuse formed in 2012, are from Winnipeg, Manitoba and feature ex members of Daggermouth. They play "fast songs about girls and stuff" and list a bunch of influences including Leatherface, Pennywise, Neil Young, NOFX, Jawbreaker, Descendents, Social Distortion etc.......

  Their first release was 2014's mini album Born To Lose and you can find it, along with a track they contributed to a split 7" with Anchorless here : https://elderabuse.bandcamp.com/.

  Next month sees the release of their first proper full length, titled Burnt, it'll be available on State Of Mind Recordings and Little Rocket Records. They've already premiered a few songs from the album, one of which you can find the video for below. Stop worrying about stuff that doesn't matter, surround yourself with the people that do matter. No more bad days because when life gives you lemons, make Lemonade.......

 

Three Eyed Jack - Still not OK

  A punchy little number today that you would have had a few months ago if the message from Kevin Talloen hadn't been hidden away with a bunch of others in Facebook's filtered messages archive. Better late than never I suppose.

  Three Eyed Jack are a skate punk/pop punk trio from Oostkamp in Belgium. As well as Kevin (drums), the band also features Wietse Scheyving (guitar/vocals) and Jens Talloen (bass). https://www.facebook.com/threeeyedjack/

  Their first release was a 10 track demo in 2011 and they followed it up with an album in 2015 titled Always In For Happy Days. You can check out the album here : https://threeeyedjackpunk.bandcamp.com/releases

  This is Still Not Ok.......

Clowns - Destroy The Evidence

 

  One of the songs that went down well on yesterday's Just Some Punk Songs show was the new single by a band from Melbourne called Clowns. (The show is saved here if anyone's interested : http://mixlr.com/mick-fletcher/showreel/just-some-punk-songs-250916/ ).  The band have been together since 2009 and are building up a healthy worldwide fanbase.

  You can get the latest news here : http://www.clownsband.com/ and if  you want to check out their music (including the new single) then head in this direction : https://clownsband.bandcamp.com/

 They were recently over in Europe bringing their energetic skate punk to the northern hemisphere but October will see them back on native shores where they'll be gigging with No Anchor and there's also another 7" imminent.

  A snapshot of life on the road with Clowns, here's the video for Destroy The Evidence.....

The Decline - Almost Never Met You

  The Decline are going to be busy touring The States from October till December (dates below), so if you're lucky enough to have them stop off near you make sure to check them out.

  Hailing from Perth, Australia, they've come a long way since they got together in 2006. They've released 3 albums (I'm Not Gonna Lie To You, Are You Gonna Eat That and Resister) and despite undergoing several line up changes remain one of skate punks best bands. They're one of the hardest working bands around and have toured America, Europe, Japan etc playing alongside bands such as The Descendents, Anti Flag, Propagandhi, Teenage Bottlerocket etc etc etc.....

  Accompanying them on the first part of the forthcoming U.S. tour will be Brooklyn punks Make War.

10/13 – Las Vegas, NV @ Beauty Bar
10/14 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Underground
10/15 – Denver, CO @ Seventh Circle Music Collective
10/17 – St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill
10/18 – Chicago, IL @ Liar’s Club
10/19 – Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary
10/20 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Rock Room
10/21 – Brooklyn, NY @ Gold Sounds
10/22 – Trenton, NJ @ Millhill Basement
10/23 – Boston, MA @ O’Brien’s Pub
10/24 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
10/25 – Baltimore, MD @ Sidebar
10/26 – Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone
*10/27 – Atlanta, GA @ 1089 Fayetteville Rd.
10/28-10/30 – Gainesville, FL @ FEST
*11/01 – New Orleans, LA @ TBA
*11/03 – Houston, TX @ Satellite Bar
*11/04 – San Antonio, TX @ The Korova
*11/05 – Ft. Worth, TX @ 1919 Hemphill
*11/06 – Oklahoma City @ Blue Note Lounge
*11/08 – Albuquerque, NM @ Winning Coffee
*11/09 – Tempe, AZ @ Time Out Lounge
*11/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Redwood Bar
*11/11 – San Diego, CA @ The Tower Bar
*11/12 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room w/ The Mr. T Experience

* = No MakeWar

From their 2015 Resister album, this is the extremely catchy Almost Never Met You.....

The Ridgelands - Padded Rooms

  The Ridgelands are a skate punk band from Chicago who feature Tall Doug (guitar/lead vocals), Mike Schultz (bass/vocals) and new drummer Victor De La Mora.

  Attracting comparisons with the likes of Green Day, Moral Crux, Ann Beretta, Screeching Weasel, The Queers etc, they released their debut ep, Corey Webster Must Die!!! in 2012 and followed it up a year later with an album on Sexy Baby Records called Daggers Down (you can check that out here :  https://sexybabyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/daggers-down).

  In celebration of enlisting their new drummer, they've posted a new song which fast paced, catchy and is called Padded Rooms......

Free Sergio - So Far Yet So Close

   I don't think I've posted anything from Israel yet so I think it's about time I rectified that situation. Forming as a 3 piece in 2009 and hailing from Nazareth Illit, Free Sergio now feature 4 members; Itay Mikel (guitar), Galil Rapaport (vocals/guitar), Alex Frey (drums) and Dani Nickel (bass).

  They're a band that has a pop punk sound (occasionally they add a dash of ska) but who write about more serious subjects than many of the bands from that genre. They recently released their debut ep. titled Take Control, it's available "name your price" here : https://freesergio.bandcamp.com/releases

  Here's the lyric video for the opening track, So Far Yet So Close......